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Source: People's Republic of China in Russian – People's Republic of China in Russian –
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Source: People's Republic of China – State Council News
BEIJING, February 17 (Xinhua) — When Xu Jian from Hangzhou, east China's Zhejiang Province, shook the mechanical hand of a Fuxing robot on a train, he suddenly realized he was witnessing history. "I work in robotics and have been familiar with humanoid robots for quite some time, but meeting one on a train during Chunyun—that's the first time!" he exclaimed, filming the scene on his phone.
During the Chunyun period (a special season for the country's transportation system during the mass migration of Chinese people before, during, and after the Spring Festival) in 2026, a group of "special guides" – humanoid robots – began working at stations, airports, and trains across China, becoming a new highlight of this, the world's largest annual human migration.
From high-speed train carriages to airport terminals, humanoid robots are becoming an unexpected part of Chinese travel experiences, adding a vibrant technological twist to traditional holiday trips.
At Hangzhou East Railway Station, one of the main transportation hubs in the Yangtze River Delta region, a humanoid robot called "Fuxing," dressed as a railway worker, stood at the door of a high-speed train, greeting passengers with a wave. This is the first robot conductor to join the Hangzhou Passenger Transportation Service team this year.
After boarding train G7511, "Fuxing" walked through the carriage, interacting with passengers on both sides, shaking hands and waving back. Many passengers took out their phones to capture this "pleasant surprise" of their journey. According to train manager Che Feifei, in addition to simple interactions, "Fuxing" can also answer questions about train stop times, transfers, the weather, and much more.
In the north of the country, on the T48 train traveling from Qiqihar (Heilongjiang Province, Northeast China) to Beijing, two special performers appeared at the "New Year's concert," which has been held for 20 years in a row. Android robots took center stage, actively interacting with young passengers and allowing travelers to experience the pulse of technology in the atmosphere of the upcoming Chinese New Year.
On the first day of the Chunyun holiday, a unique technological New Year's show took place at the Lishe Airport terminal in Ningbo, Zhejiang Province, eastern China. A red-suited Unitree robot transformed into a mechanical "God of Wealth," and a nearby robotic dog transformed into a living "dancing lion," treating arriving and departing passengers to a remarkable performance.
"I was already really excited to go home for the holidays, but I never expected to see such a wonderful robot show at the airport. It's both fun and unique, and you can really feel the innovative energy of Ningbo," said a passenger surnamed Hong, who was heading home to celebrate the New Year.
In Shanghai, China Eastern Airlines introduced multifunctional service robots at its main airports – Pudong and Hongqiao – that are used for check-in, baggage handling, consultation, and navigation.
"The digital economy in Zhejiang Province is very developed, and in 2025, humanoid robots were often the hottest trend. As railway employees, we wanted to use high-speed train rolling stock as a mobile platform to give more people the opportunity to experience the charm of technology," Che Feifei explained the motivation for introducing robot conductors.
The introduction of robots "to replace" humans isn't a replacement for human workers, but rather a service upgrade based on human-machine collaboration. At the Hangzhou Passenger Transportation Service, the robot "Fuxing" takes on basic tasks: consultation and navigation, patrolling, and cultural interaction, freeing attendants from repetitive tasks and allowing them to focus more on serving mothers with children, assisting passengers with special needs, responding to emergency situations, and other more complex services.
"Although the robot guide's functions are still being refined, the very presence of humanoid robots during the Chunyun period is already a significant event," says Chen, a passenger traveling with two children. "It represents the deep integration of technology into everyday life."
The widespread deployment of humanoid robots during the 2026 "chunyun" period marks a rapid rise in China's robotics industry. According to data, global shipments of humanoid robots in 2025 will reach 15,000 units, with Chinese companies accounting for nearly 90 percent. Combined shipments of two Chinese companies—Uniteree and AgiBot—will exceed 10,000 units.
Morgan Stanley raised its forecast for sales of humanoid robots in the Chinese market in 2026 from 18,000 to 28,000 units. Currently, China has over 140 companies specializing in humanoid robots, a complete domestic industry chain—from gearboxes to dexterous hands—has been established, and a $26 billion fund has been established.
In 2026, robots, acting as "freelance conductors," along with Chinese railway and airline workers, guard the journey home for hundreds of millions of people, creating some of the most moving scenes of the 2026 Chunyun period. -0-
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