Beijing is hosting the first World Humanoid Robot Games, featuring over 500 robots from 280 teams across 16 countries.
The three-day event, which began Thursday at the National Speed Skating Oval, includes 26 contests such as football, boxing, kung fu, medicine sorting, and cleaning tasks.
Robots took part in high-energy matches, often stumbling and colliding in football, while some fell during sprint and long-distance races.
One of the quickest robots completed a 1,500-meter race in 6 hours, 29 minutes, and 37 seconds, far slower than human world records.
In kung fu demonstrations, child-sized robots attempted complex moves but sometimes toppled over, drawing cheers from the audience.
The games are part of China’s broader push into robotics and artificial intelligence. Officials have made humanoid development a key element of national technology growth, with a planned one-trillion-yuan fund to support innovation in sectors such as robotics.
International teams noted China’s rapid progress and competitive performance in the field.
Tickets for the games range from 180 to 580 yuan, attracting both technology enthusiasts and families.
The event follows other recent robotics activities in China, including a humanoid robot marathon, a major industry conference, and the opening of dedicated retail outlets for humanoid machines.