In a dazzling display of technological innovation, China celebrated its Spring Festival in Beijing by featuring an extraordinary performance of humanoid robots that captivated audiences and underlined the nation’s strides in robotics development. Presented during the 2025 Spring Festival Gala, organized by China Media Group, a carefully choreographed routine involved 16 humanoid robots from Hangzhou-based Yushu Technology, also known as Unitree.
These robots, tall with a sleek black design, wore bright red jackets and moved in perfect synchrony with their human counterparts to a traditional Chinese folk dance. The performance, set against the backdrop of the Lunar New Year celebrations, highlighted China’s advanced capabilities in robotics. The robots seamlessly twirled red handkerchiefs, tossing them in the air with precision and catching them effortlessly, much to the delight of the audience. This eye-catching spectacle was captured and shared by CGTN, a state media outlet, showcasing the elegant and agile movements of the Unitree H1 robots.
The Spring Festival Gala, renowned for its cultural significance, also featured international acts like the American pop band OneRepublic, but the robot dancers stole the spotlight, reinforcing China’s commitment to leading the robotics frontier. Unitree, known for innovations like the smaller G1 model displayed at the 2025 CES, has also developed four-legged robotic canines. These dog-like machines have been integrated into tactical scenarios, as seen in a 2024 military exercise between China and Cambodia, illustrating their utility and versatility in modern applications.
Globally, humanoid robots are capturing the attention of tech behemoths such as Elon Musk’s Tesla and Nvidia. In 2023, China ambitiously outlined plans to mass-produce advanced humanoid robots by 2025 with aspirations to “reshape the world,” as detailed by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology. The sector has become a significant focus among tech leaders, with Musk showcasing his Optimus robots and calling them his most groundbreaking product yet. Meanwhile, Nvidia’s CEO, Jensen Huang, announced during Computex 2024 in Taipei that the future of robotics would include high-volume products like autonomous vehicles and humanoid robots.
China’s Spring Festival performance not only celebrated the nation’s cultural heritage but also exhibited its burgeoning technological prowess, positioning itself as a leader in the global race to advance humanoid robotics.