China's Surge in Humanoid Robotics, Part I: Progressing Beyond the Exhibition Stage

      Editor's note: This article was penned by Lucia, a reporter for TechNode. A robot prepared noodles in roughly one minute, while another robot made breakfast. Humanoids navigated stairs, overcame obstacles, and sparred inside a fighting cage. Meanwhile, other robots sorted packages, fetched medications, and practiced various tasks ranging from household chores to emergency rescues. The 2026 World Robot Conference (WRC), which took place from August 19 to 23 in Beijing, showcased an industry grappling with a larger question: how can increasingly advanced machines integrate into everyday life and work? Under the theme “Human-Robot Symbiosis, Production-Demand Convergence,” this five-day event featured hundreds of robotics companies and thousands of products. A total of 373 companies displayed over 3,000 products, including 311 new offerings, along with numerous innovative technologies and solutions.

      Robots were actively engaged and occasionally showcased creativity. On the exhibition floor, the focus was on not just what robots could do, but also where they could be beneficial. Galaxea AI unveiled several new models, including the Galbot ET1, G1, and S1. In a simulated home scenario, the G1 prepared breakfast by toasting bread and pouring drinks. When the cup was moved during the pouring process, the robot righted the pitcher to prevent spills, adjusted the cup's position, and continued pouring.

      CASBOT introduced a unique performance with a robot rock band featuring an electric guitarist, bassist, keyboardist, and drummer. The group entertained attendees with popular Chinese rock songs, such as Beyond’s “Glorious Years” and “Boundless Oceans, Vast Skies,” culminating in an original song titled “Heat Dissipation.”

      Li-Gong showcased two LiDian F1 robots collaborating in an ongoing industrial process, disassembling parts, sorting and transporting them, then reassembling and returning them — demonstrating how embodied intelligence can enhance factory operations.

      Unitree’s robots also participated in kickboxing matches. In the final, which featured competitors weighing 40 kilograms, a team from North China Electric Power University operated a Unitree G1 to defeat another G1 controlled by Unitree's own team, thus claiming the championship — a result that Beijing Daily humorously summarized with the headline: “defeat.”

      The exhibition also highlighted an increasing number of biomimetic robots from companies like UBTECH, AheadForm, Noetix Robotics, and HokMind. Their humanoid designs are becoming more refined, with developers focusing on body proportions, joint movement, facial expressions, skin, and hair.

      However, some of the most unforgettable moments arose when robots exhibited surprising behaviors. At the World Humanoid Robot Games, which were held in Beijing that same week, the 1.35-meter-tall Tiangong Omni won the small-size 400-meter race with a time of 45.66 seconds. Its running form garnered nearly as much attention as its speed, as it leaned forward with arms raised near its face, prompting comparisons by Chinese internet users to someone bashfully "covering their face" while running.

      This pose was not intentionally designed by its developers. According to Han Gang, a motion-control algorithm expert at the Beijing Humanoid Robot Innovation Center, rapid arm movements could place additional strain on the shoulder joints, leading to increased heat and energy consumption over the 400-meter distance.

      Beyond the demonstrations, China's humanoid robot boom is approaching a pivotal test: transitioning from stage showcases and "small-batch trials" to reliable, large-scale applications.