Homegrown high-tech humanoids are advancing in literal leaps and bounds

There was a time when a dance performance called robotic was seen as a criticism. Now, though, it's likely to send an audience into a frenzy.

Chinese humanoid robots are busting out showstopping flips, tricks and twists, wowing crowds from atop the nation's biggest stages.

Just a year after their slightly awkward but undeniably charming, handkerchief-waving debut at the 2025 Spring Festival Gala, these dancing machines have leveled up their boogie game and are back this year at the gala.

At a recent concert by pop singer Wang Leehom in Chengdu, the capital of Sichuan province, six Unitree G1 robots delivered a synchronized street dance routine that ended with a jaw-dropping "Webster" flip.

READ MORE: China's humanoid robots speed into reality

The gravity-defying move was so slick that it even caught the eye of Elon Musk, who reposted a video of it on X, calling the performance "impressive".

"The same robot could barely walk when I first bought it; six months later, it could run, and now it can perform over a dozen routines, mostly popular street dances, and even give a demonstration of Bruce Lee's Jeet Kune Do," said Lei Yonglin, who runs a business in Changsha, the capital of Hunan province, renting the robots to events and performance companies.

They "evolve" without the need for costly hardware upgrades. According to Lei, while a human performer might take days to master a particular choreographic routine, a robot can "learn" it in only 30 minutes with just a simple software update.

Since starting the venture in February 2025, the business owner has built up a fleet of 12 robots — six humanoid machines and six robot dogs — all manufactured by leading Chinese robotics brands such as Unitree and EngineAI, and his business is booming.

The robots' schedule is jam-packed with bookings for commercial performances, for which they command appearance fees ranging from 3,000 to 5,000 yuan ($430-$720) per show.

So, why, given how seemingly adroit these machines are, does dancing and performing appear to be their prime directive?

Yao Qiyuan, co-founder of EngineAI, a robot manufacturer based in Shenzhen, Guangdong province, explained that dancing is a strategic showcase. While the intricacies of robotics might be lost on the average person, the "flexibility of movement" provides easily understandable evidence of a machine's capabilities.

The company hit viral pay dirt in April, when popular YouTuber IShowSpeed from the United States performed a dance routine with EngineAI's T800 model during a visit to Shenzhen. The video of the livestream has racked up more than 1.6 million views, while clips of the encounter have added millions more.

Making its official global debut at last month's tech show CES 2026 in Las Vegas, Nevada, in the US, EngineAI demonstrated the full-body coordination and fine motor control capabilities of the T800, claiming "industry-leading dynamic output and load-handling capability" in "high dynamic scenarios like martial arts and running".

Yao likens a robot's dancing to a health check. "If a person can dance every day, it shows they are in good physical shape. It's the same for robots," he said.

"Humanoids have been iterating at a pace measured in weeks," said Zhao Yuli, chief strategy officer at Beijing-based Galbot Co.

ALSO READ: China rises as robotics powerhouse

According to Zhao, the industry is advancing on two key fronts: motion control (algorithms for stability and smooth movement) and the "autonomous brain", powered by embodied AI. The ultimate goal is a brilliant mind paired with a flexible body.

Yao, EngineAI's co-founder, emphasized the distinction between humanoid robots and traditional machines. "Factory robots don't need to look human. In some cases, a single arm can get the job done. They are just about labor," he explained. "The human form allows an invitation into our personal spaces, and brings emotional value."

And this year, again, they will be invited into the homes of millions of Chinese, as Unitree, Galbot, Magic Atom and Noetix have all been announced as official robotics partners for State broadcaster China Central Television's 2026 Spring Festival Gala.

With an almost constant stream of viral videos showing the ever more impressive exploits of these mechanical marvels, it's only fair to expect that this year's gala performance will make even bigger waves — and not just with a few handkerchiefs.

Contact the writers at baishuhao@chinadaily.com.cn