In a mesmerizing display at a recent exhibition in Hangzhou, dozens of humanoid robots performed perfect pirouettes, their joints clicking to the beat of pulsating music as they received applause from the audience.

According to Xinhua, the scene partly reflects a current trend in China, where more and more organizations and individuals are hiring humanoid robots for performances, exhibitions and livestreams to attract public attention.

The robots shot to fame earlier this year when a “fleet” from the startup Unitree mesmerized audiences with a folk dance in colorful coats at the Spring Festival Gala, one of China’s most-watched broadcasts. Humanoid robots immediately became a hot commodity on the market.

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A humanoid robot walks at the exhibition hall of Unitree Robotics in Hangzhou, China on February 20, 2025. Photo: Xinhua

Gao Lai, who has been in the robot rental business for more than a decade, said orders for Unitree's G1 humanoid robot have spiked since early February and are fully booked through March. His company rents robots for exhibitions in Hangzhou, capital of Zhejiang province.

“The daily rental price for a humanoid robot ranges from 8,000 to 15,000 yuan (US$1,200 to US$2,300). With the booming demand, we expect our revenue to increase by 80% this year,” Gao added.

In terms of price, the Unitree G1 model starts at 99,000 yuan, while the H1 model starts at 650,000 yuan.

Demand for robots at business events and exhibitions is driving the expansion of the robot rental market, according to industry insiders. On Xianyu, one of China’s largest second-hand trading platforms, rental prices for Unitree robots can run into the thousands of yuan, often including shipping costs, machine adjustments and on-site support.

In Hangzhou’s Yuhang district, the local government plans to hold more robot shows and hire robots for tutorials in rural areas. District official Zhang Jingcan said dancing with robots has attracted attention. They will work with businesses to introduce AI to rural residents.

While the concept of humanoid robots is not new, having emerged in Japan in the 1960s, humanoid robots are evolving faster than ever thanks to AI. According to Unitree CEO Wang Xingxing, they have upgraded the software algorithms in their humanoid robots to make them more agile and improve their dancing skills.

Mr. Wang believes that humanoid robots will reach new heights by the end of this year and, if all goes well, can be deployed in service and industrial sectors in 2026 or 2027. Robots for home use will take longer because of higher security requirements.

Professor Xiong Rong from Zhejiang University emphasized the importance of security in robotic applications: "Only by ensuring the safety of human-robot interactions, the robots themselves, and the data can we achieve large-scale production."

The ultimate goal of humanoid robots is to develop into multi-purpose robots that can adapt to diverse environments and perform multiple tasks without depending on specific locations or tools. Doing so requires advances in AI, advanced manufacturing, and new materials, driven by collaboration between academia and industry.

With soaring demand and continuous innovation, China's humanoid robot market is forecast to grow exponentially in the coming years, capturing a significant share of the global market.

According to a report on the humanoid robot industry released at the 2024 World AI Conference in Shanghai, China's humanoid robot market was estimated to have reached 2.76 billion yuan last year. By 2029, the market is expected to reach 75 billion yuan, accounting for 32.7% of the global market.

(According to Xinhua News Agency)