Beijing is set to host the world's first humanoid robot half-marathon on Sunday, a groundbreaking event aimed not only at showcasing robotic athleticism but also at stress-testing the latest advances in robotics hardware and software.
The event marks a major milestone in the development of embodied AI and humanoid robotics.
Spanning over 21 kilometers, the half-marathon will require participating bipedal robots to execute approximately 250,000 precise joint movements.
Experts highlighted that ensuring stability, endurance, and agility over such a distance remains a significant technical challenge.
"First, it needs to overcome endurance challenges in real-world scenarios, address issues related to route selection and running, and resolve a series of problems such as communication and signal transmission during the process. Behind the effort to tackle these challenges are multiple teams working on foundational technologies, including joint mechanisms, heat dissipation, communications, and intelligent systems," said Su Guobin, Deputy Director of the Beijing Municipal Bureau of Economy and Information Technology.
Organizers emphasized that the event is designed to drive forward integration between hardware and software, leading to meaningful upgrades in robotic capabilities.
At present, preparations for the race have served as a catalyst, leading to significant improvements in both the hardware and software capabilities of the robots.
"For example, during the development process for the marathon, we have developed more powerful joints for the robots. These will enhance their load-bearing capacity, torque, and the effectiveness of force generated through their limbs during movement. As the surrounding environment stimulates the robot, such as changes in terrain, it can respond accordingly. It may also use its cameras to assess the environment and adjust its movements in real time. All of this represents a strong application and advancement in the field of embodied intelligence," said Su.
The race, set for April 13 in the Beijing Economic-Technological Development Area in the capital city's southeast, will feature both robotic and human athletes competing on the same route but on separate tracks to ensure safety for all participants.
World's first humanoid robot half-marathon to push limits of humanoid robotics technology
Tourist destinations across China witnessed a surge in visitors during the Labor Day holiday, offering a diverse range of experiences to enrich travelers' journeys.
Among the spots is Hengshan Mountain and Hanging Temple in Datong City, north China's Shanxi Province, which has seen a peak in visitor numbers on Thursday, the first day of Labor Day holiday.
To manage the large crowds, the scenic area required tourists to book time slot in advance and extended its opening hours by one hour in the morning and one hour in the evening.
"It's truly spectacular. I'm amazed at the wisdom of the ancients in building this temple," said a visitor.
To protect the wooden structure of the Hanging Temple, daily visitor numbers are capped at 3,260, and tickets for the holiday were sold out.
In Henan Province, the Mount Laojun scenic area in Luoyang City recorded nearly 30,000 visitors on Thursday.
While enjoying the scenery, visitors enjoyed traditional Chinese performances and participated in interactive activities like making lacquer fans.
"When the fan comes out of the water, the colors are so beautiful, like an ink painting. I've only seen it in videos before, and being able to experience it here is amazing," said Dong Feifei, a tourist.
"The scenery was breathtaking along the way I climbed up. I also went to see the performance. The performers were so graceful," said Li Jiaxue, another visitor.
In Shuanghe town of southwest China's Sichuan Province, hundreds of cold rice cakes in flavors like brown sugar, watermelon, and pineapple were lined up on a hundred-meter-long table, tempting a thousand visitors to savor the traditional treats and experience the charm of local culture.
The Shuanghe cold rice cakes, with a history of over 120 years, are renowned for their chewy texture and smooth taste.
In Hunan Province, the Zhangjiajie Tianmen Mountain National Forest Park attracted both domestic and international tourists with its stunning natural scenery.
As night fell, the mountainside was illuminated with colorful lights, transforming the 999 steps into a shimmering bridge to "Heaven," which made the Heaven's Gate, a water-eroded cave, more majestic.
"I really like the view. Because you can see the hole is very big and all the lights are very amazing. It's really beautiful," said Clara, a visitor from France.
China's scenic spots buzz with activity during Labor Day holiday
