Chinese humanoid robots prepare for second-ever half marathon in Beijing

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aKYxLWqw8ZQ

Chinese humanoid robots are preparing for Beijing’s second-ever humanoid half marathon, with more than 100 teams expected to test their machines on the course. The event builds on last year’s race, when robots ran alongside humans in a world-first competition and the top robot finished in 2:40:42.

What’s different this year

This year’s field appears much bigger, with reports saying over 300 robots may take part across 100-plus teams, including companies like Unitree. Organizers have also been holding trial runs in Beijing to see how the humanoids handle pacing, turns, and battery changes.

Why it matters

The race is more than a stunt; it is a public test of how far China’s humanoid robotics sector has come in balance, endurance, and autonomy. Last year’s event showed that robots can complete a half marathon, but they were still far behind human runners and needed human support teams and battery swaps.