I often tune into the Spring Pageant Gala (“Chunwan”) for the nostalgia—the normal dances, the songs, the crimson lanterns. It’s the most-watched TV present on the planet for a purpose. However this yr, I dropped my snacks once I noticed what was taking place on stage.
We’re used to seeing robots stroll awkwardly or perhaps do a stiff little dance. What occurred in China this week was totally different. Humanoid robots weren’t simply taking part; they had been performing high-level Kung Fu.
The 2026 Gala determined to blur the road between historical custom and cyberpunk future, and truthfully, the outcome was terrifyingly spectacular.
No Extra “Robotic Stroll”: Backflips and Swords
The celebs of the evening had been undoubtedly the Unitree H2 humanoid robots. They didn’t simply stand there; they carried out alongside a troupe of younger, human Kung Fu masters.
Here’s what blew my thoughts:
Agility: These machines had been doing backflips. Actual, unassisted backflips.Trampolines: They used trampolines to launch into excessive jumps, touchdown with a stability that may make a gymnast jealous.Synchronization: Probably the most tough a part of robotics is usually coordination. Seeing them transfer in good sync with human kids was a technical marvel.
However then, they upped the ante. The efficiency shifted from hand-to-hand fight to weaponry. We noticed robots wielding swords and nunchakus with horrifying precision. The stability management required to swing a weapon with out tipping over is immense, and these machines made it look simple.
From Dancing to Preventing: The One-Yr Leap
In case you comply with this area like I do, you may keep in mind final yr’s gala. Again then, Unitree’s H1 mannequin did a “Yangge” people dance. It was cute, it went viral, but it surely was clearly a robotic doing a robotic dance.
The leap from the H1 to this yr’s H2 mannequin is staggering. Social media in China is at the moment exploding with side-by-side comparisons.
2025: Stiff, cautious actions, give attention to not falling.2026: Dynamic, aggressive, fluid movement with advanced props.
It wasn’t simply concerning the combating, both. Earlier within the evening, Noetix’s “Bumi” robots took half in a comedy sketch, proving that these platforms have gotten expressive sufficient to land a joke (or at the very least be a part of one).
Why This Issues Past the Stage
It’s simple to observe this and simply suppose, “Cool present.” However let’s look nearer. China isn’t simply doing this for leisure. They’re showcasing their speedy dominance within the embodied AI sector.
Over the past yr, we’ve seen the World Humanoid Robotic Video games and even a robotic half-marathon in China. By placing these machines on the nation’s largest stage, they’re sending a message: The {hardware} represents the brand new commonplace.
When a robotic can carry out a synchronized sword routine on reside TV and not using a glitch, we’re previous the “prototype” section. We’re coming into the period of deployment.
I’ve to ask: Watching a robotic wield a sword with that stage of precision… does it make you excited for the way forward for tech, or did you simply get just a little shiver down your backbone?