Whether you’re curious to see a robot fold laundry, thinking about bringing home a robot dog or a humanoid companion for emotional support, or just want to watch robots box and dance, Beijing is the place to be right now.

China’s 2026 World Robot Conference kicked off on Wednesday, with companies highlighting the country’s expanding robotics industry as it pushes to shift robots from flashy demos into practical, everyday use in factories and beyond.

Organizers say around 3,000 products will be showcased during the five-day event. Despite the conference's name, there was no sign of other countries exhibiting.

One of the main attractions on Wednesday was the booth of Unitree, one of China’s leading humanoid robot makers, where some of its models boxed and danced. One even played ping pong with a human opponent.

The opening of the conference coincided with Unitree’s stock market debut in Shanghai.

The conference comes weeks after the U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) announced a ban on imports of new foreign-made humanoid robots and power inverters, citing national security risks, in a move targeting China. The prohibition also covers new imports of quadruped robots, often referred to as four-legged robot dogs. The agency pointed to national security concerns, arguing that increasingly sophisticated robots could introduce cybersecurity and other security risks.

Humanoid robot race

Startup Robotera displayed a slick demonstration of a parcel-sorting humanoid robot torso on a wheeled tripod base at the show. The robots have a continuous running time of 900 to 1,000 hours, and are 85% as effective as a human worker, a sales representative told reporters.

Other exhibits ⁠included DexForce's humanoid robots, which package mobile phones into boxes, and a giant robotic horse that can be ridden.

UBTECH, another of China’s leading robotics companies, brought several industrial models to the conference. Some demonstrated tasks such as moving components around as they might on a factory floor.

But among those drawing the most attention were humanoid robots with lifelike faces, promoted for emotional care.

"Is it a 'machine', or a 'human'?" posited a sign next to the enormous machine. "That is a distinction for the future."

Hundreds of robotics startups, some just a few years old, peppered the sprawling convention center hoping to dazzle.

"You can see the improvements every year," said Soumodip Sarkar, the executive president of a science park in Portugal who was visiting the expo on a tour of factories in China.

Jiao Jichao, deputy president of UBTECH Robotics, said one of its emotional-care humanoids can talk, make various facial expressions, rotate its neck and move its hands. It is available to individual buyers for 168,000 yuan (about $24,000).

But despite the increasingly sophisticated displays, experts say many humanoid robots remain more impressive as performers than as practical workers.

Several companies showcased helper robots equipped with mechanical arms and hands. At one booth, a robot attempted a seemingly simple household chore, folding a shirt. After several minutes of trying, it couldn’t do it.