China Unveils First Robot Mall in Beijing, Paving the Way for Robotics in Everyday Life

China has unveiled its first dedicated shopping center for robots, the Robot Mall, in Beijing’s high-tech E-Town district. The four-story facility, which opened on Friday, is designed to bring robotics technology from research labs into everyday homes. It features more than 100 robots from over 40 brands, including major Chinese firms like Ubtech Robotics and Unitree Robotics. Operating under the “4S” model common in China’s automotive industry—sales, service, spare parts, and customer feedback—the mall functions much like a car dealership, but for robots. Visitors can browse, test, and purchase robots ranging from affordable models starting at 2,000 yuan ($278) to high-end humanoid units priced at several million yuan. Among the highlights is a talking humanoid replica of Albert Einstein, priced at 700,000 yuan ($97,473). The mall also includes a themed restaurant where robot waiters serve dishes prepared by robot chefs. Guests can enjoy live demonstrations of robots playing soccer and Chinese chess, interact with robot dogs, or meet animatronic figures of historical icons such as Isaac Newton, Emperor Qin Shi Huang, and the renowned Tang Dynasty poet Li Bai. The opening coincides with two major robotics events in Beijing. Friday marked the start of the 2025 World Robot Conference, running through August 12, where nearly 500 experts from over 20 countries will gather to discuss emerging trends. Around 200 robotics companies will showcase more than 1,500 exhibits highlighting cutting-edge innovations. Just days later, the city will host the 2025 World Humanoid Robot Games from August 14 to 17. Over 100 teams from around the world are expected to compete in 21 events testing humanoid robots in athletics, soccer, dance, material handling, drug sorting, and other real-world scenarios. This flurry of activity reflects China’s aggressive national strategy to dominate the global robotics industry. The government has already allocated more than $20 billion in subsidies to the sector over the past year. Reports indicate Beijing is planning a massive one trillion yuan ($137 billion) fund to support AI and robotics startups. The scale of China’s investment has drawn attention from U.S. companies and policymakers. Firms like Tesla and Boston Dynamics have urged American lawmakers to develop a coordinated national strategy to keep pace with China’s rapid advancements in robotics and artificial intelligence.