Humanoid robots were the unexpected protagonists of one of the most important tv events in the world: China’s Spring Festival Gala. This program, with the Guinness World Record as the annual show with the most viewers in the entire world, is more than a combination of dance and music, it’s also a platform where the country shows the image it wants to show about itself.
In this edition, China showcased humanoid robots to the main stage and they did kung fu with amazing precision. What the audience saw was a clear demonstration of the importance of technology, robotics, and innovation in the country’s national narrative. So, let’s talk a bit more about these robots.
Spring Festival Gala
First of all, we need to understand what the Spring Festival Gala is. This show has been broadcast since 1983 and is an essential part of Lunar New Year celebrations in hundreds of millions of Chinese households, so you can imagine how successful it is since it has been broadcasted for so many years. Some people even compare the event to the American Super Bowl in scale and media impact.
You might think that this is an entertainment kind of show, but it also sends cultural, political, and industrial messages. For this reason, the presence of humanoid robots was a public statement about the importance of innovation in China’s future.
Why kung fu?
To present these robots, the organizers of the show chose a very representative symbol of Chinese culture: kung fu. It’s amazing how it almost looks like the robots are real performers doing those kung fu moves — those flips and acrobatics… wow! During the CCTV broadcast, available on YouTube, the humanoid robots:
- Used traditional weapons such as swords and nunchucks.
- Executed synchronized routines alongside human performers.
- Performed acrobatics.
- Jumped from trampolines.
The choice of kung fu was intentional because combining traditional martial arts with advanced humanoid robots was the perfect idea to make the performance connect the country’s heritage with its technological ambitions.
The robots’ movements showed balance, coordination, and near-millimeter precision. This highlighted the high level of technological development behind these machines.
Companies behind the humanoid robots
Specific technology companies were responsible for the robots featured in the performance. Among them were:
- Unitree
- MagicLab
- Galbot
- Noetix
Some of these companies, such as Unitree, are already known in Western markets. In the previous year’s gala, Unitree’s robots performed and their appearance went viral, bringing humanoid robot technology closer to the general public. That earlier success likely influenced the decision to present a similar performance again.
Industry, growth, and strategy
The appearance of humanoid robots in the show is part of a wonder industry strategy. China has placed robotics and artificial intelligence in the center of its next manufacturing era.
Now, let’s see some numbers about these past few years and what’s expected to happen in China:
- In the last few years, the country has put its faith in this sector. According to Omdia, China focused about 90% of almost 13,000 humanoid robots sent worldwide last year. This data proves the country’s dominant position in this emerging market.
- It’s expected that Chinese sales of humanoid robots could exceed 28,000 units this year, suggesting a significant expansion phase.
These statistics show that the robots seen performing kung fu are not merely stage props. They represent a fast-growing industry that China is actively promoting and developing.
So…
The question is no longer whether humanoid robots can perform in front of massive audiences—they clearly can. The real question is how much their presence will grow in the coming years and in which areas of everyday life they may eventually integrate. Would you like to live in a world where these humanoid robots are part of your daily life?