Robot Mall, China’s first large shopping mall dedicated entirely to robots, has opened in Beijing. Its opening is part of a strategy to popularize robotics and bring innovation from the lab to everyday life, writes Gizmodo.
The four-story center in the high-tech E-Town district has brought together more than 100 robots from more than 40 brands, including China's Ubtech Robotics and Unitree Robotics . It operates according to the "4S" model known in car dealerships: sales, service, spare parts and customer feedback in one place.
The robots range in price from 2,000 yuan ($278) to several million. Among the most expensive is a humanoid replica of Albert Einstein, which costs 700,000 yuan ($97,000). The center also has a restaurant where robot chefs prepare meals and robot waiters serve. Visitors can see robots playing soccer and Chinese chess, robot dogs, and meet animatronic versions of historical figures.
The opening coincided with the start of the World Robot Conference 2025 , which will last until August 12 and will bring together almost 500 experts from more than 20 countries. About 200 companies will present their developments at more than 1,500 stands.
From August 14 to 17, Beijing will also host the World Humanoid Robot Games 2025. More than 100 teams will participate in the competition, and the program will include 21 disciplines, from sports and dance to industrial and medical tasks.
The developments are part of China’s massive robotics program. The country has provided more than $20 billion in subsidies in the past year alone and is planning to create a 1 trillion yuan ($137 billion) fund to support AI and robotics startups in the near future. The United States, meanwhile, is debating its own strategy to compete with Beijing.