Key points
- Shaolin Temple showcases humanoid martial arts
- Spring Festival Gala features robot performances
- China accelerates investment in humanoid robotics
ISLAMABAD: China’s latest wave of humanoid robots performing martial arts has captured global attention, as videos of the machines practising kung fu routines alongside Shaolin monks and in televised gala performances circulate widely on social media and news platforms. The clips, blending ancient tradition with cutting-edge technology, have left viewers both impressed and intrigued by how far robotics has advanced.
Clips from China’s historic Shaolin Temple show humanoid robots — developed by firms such as Shanghai-based AgiBot — moving in synchrony with trained monks, copying their postures and executing choreographed kung fu sequences. The videos, filmed within the temple complex, have gone viral internationally, highlighting how artificial intelligence and robotics are entering domains once considered uniquely human.
In a related showcase, state television featured rows of agile robots performing backflips, dance routines, martial arts stances, parkour and breakdancing in large numbers during the Spring Festival Gala, one of China’s most-watched annual broadcasts with audiences in the hundreds of millions. The performance included sophisticated movements and precision coordination — a marked leap forward from earlier robotic displays that were more basic and mechanical.
Market expansions
The machines, created by companies including Unitree, Galbot, Noetix and MagicLab, are part of a broader push by Chinese tech groups to advance humanoid robotics. Some firms are even planning high-volume production runs and significant market expansions, as robotics becomes a major national investment area.
Experts say the public displays serve dual purposes: entertainment and a signal of technological capability. While the performances show impressive balance, agility and pre-programmed precision, analysts note that real-world adaptability — such as navigating unpredictable environments — remains a challenge.
Nonetheless, the viral kung fu robot phenomenon illustrates the rapid progress in AI and robotics and the growing global fascination with machines that can master both technological complexity and cultural expression.
