At the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Center, a robot the size of a primary school student recently captivated crowds by singing songs and chatting in both Mandarin and English. It didn’t just follow a script; it answered spontaneous questions and accurately described the people standing before it, noting a woman with a phone and a man with a camera with clinical precision.
This scene was part of a larger showcase where more than 100 humanoid robots demonstrated their capabilities, marking a significant moment as humanoid robots show off their skills in Hong Kong. Among the highlights was the X2 Ultra, developed by AGIBOT Innovation (Shanghai) Technology Co., a prominent player in China’s rapidly expanding robotics sector.
The exhibition serves as more than a tech demo; it is a window into a strategic industrial push. For the visitors, the appeal is the novelty of a machine that can discuss its “hobbies”—ranging from dancing to studying technology—but for the manufacturers, the goal is the integration of “embodied intelligent robots” into the fabric of daily human life.
Calvin Chiu, the chief operating officer of Novautek Autonomous Driving and AGIBOT’s agent in Hong Kong, suggests these machines are being designed to fill emotional and educational gaps. According to Chiu, these robots can be programmed with distinct personalities to provide emotional satisfaction and serve as teachers for children and the elderly. “It would be like a friend,” Chiu said.
A humanoid robot manufactured by Novautek is showcased at an exhibition in Hong Kong on Monday.Chan Long Hei/The Associated Press
A Strategic Race for Technological Sovereignty
The surge in humanoid development is not accidental. In China, robotics has turn into a focal point of competition with the United States, carrying heavy national security implications. The Chinese government has integrated the acceleration of humanoid robots into its national strategic planning, with the 2026-2030 plan specifically targeting the “frontiers of science and technology.”
The scale of this expansion is reflected in the numbers. Official data indicates that by 2025, China hosted more than 140 humanoid-robot manufacturers with over 330 different models in development. This industrial density has allowed Chinese firms to scale faster than many of their Western counterparts.
According to a global assessment by the London-based research group Omdia, three Chinese firms—AGIBOT, Unitree Robotics, and UBTech Robotics Corp.—were the only “first-tier” vendors based on shipment volumes. The report noted that all three shipped more than 1,000 general-purpose embodied intelligent robots last year, with AGIBOT and Unitree exceeding 5,000 units each.
This visibility extends into the cultural mainstream. In February, the CCTV Spring Festival gala—one of the world’s most-watched television events—featured a martial arts performance where humanoid robots performed alongside children, signaling the government’s desire to normalize the presence of these machines in society.
Robots play keyboards.PETER PARKS/AFP/Getty Images
From Backflips to Public Security
The versatility of the machines on display in Hong Kong ranged from the whimsical to the utilitarian. While some robots focused on art—such as sand painting—others demonstrated high-impact mobility. Robert Chan, global strategy officer at Shenzhen-based EngineAI, showcased the PM01 robot, which is capable of performing a front flip.
Beyond entertainment, the exhibition highlighted “security patrol” applications. Demonstrations included robots capable of catching suspects using nets and performing tactical movements. EngineAI is currently moving toward mass production, with plans to launch two factories in China this year to meet growing demand.
Chan attributes this rapid progress to two primary factors: the advantage of low-cost engineering and a culture of “knowledge sharing” between companies. He noted that unlike in the U.S. Or Europe, where proprietary technology is strictly shielded, Chinese firms often share know-how, which accelerates the collective pace of innovation.
| Company | Annual Shipments (General Purpose) | Status |
|---|---|---|
| AGIBOT | 5,000+ units | First-Tier |
| Unitree Robotics | 5,000+ units | First-Tier |
| UBTech Robotics Corp. | 1,000+ units | First-Tier |
The Quest for the ‘Human’ Touch
The next frontier for these manufacturers is not just movement, but appearance and emotional resonance. Robert Chan envisions a future where robots possess bodies that look like people, featuring facial expressions and the simulated rhythm of breathing to bridge the gap in human-robot interaction.
This goal of “warmth and emotion exchange” is already being tested by firms like Shenzhen DX Intech Technology Co. At their booth, guests were greeted by three figures that, from a distance, appeared to be women. Up close, they were humanoid robots with soft synthetic faces and feminine features.
Wang Zuhua, business director at DX Intech, stated that the company has already sold more than 400 of these models. They are currently deployed in government venues and museums across mainland China, serving as tour guides and directing visitors to facilities. However, the “uncanny valley” remains a hurdle; Russel Lupang, a visitor from Malaysia, described the robots as “beautiful, but not real feeling.”
A robot plays music.PETER PARKS/AFP/Getty Images
As the industry moves toward mass production, the focus will likely shift from exhibition-style “skills” to the reliability of these machines in the workforce. The next major checkpoint for the sector will be the implementation of the 2026-2030 national plan, which will determine how these humanoid robots transition from museum guides and novelty acts to essential infrastructure in the world’s second-largest economy.
A tracked robot.PETER PARKS/AFP/Getty Images
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