China's robot market has seen a surge during the nine-day Spring Festival holiday, with demand boosted by performances at the 2026 China Media Group (CMG) Spring Festival Gala, according to industry observers.

The Spring Festival, China's most important holiday marked by family reunions, festive foods and New Year wishes, fell on Tuesday this year.

In Wuxi City, east China's Jiangsu Province, visitors are flocking to a smart robot experience center, where robots joyfully played drums and performed lively dances to welcome the influx of tourists.

"I watched the robot performances at the Spring Festival Gala, and it was truly fascinating! I stumbled upon this experience center and decided to interact with the robots. It was incredibly fun!" said Zhang Chengyu, a young visitor.

"This has attracted many adults and children. In the past two days, our visitor numbers have increased by three to four times compared to normal days, and inquiries for rentals or purchases have almost doubled," said Ge Zifan, the head of the robot experience center.
Another robot experience center in Suzhou New District, Jiangsu, is also thriving, where robots perform drum routines and lion dances. Visitors can even challenge robot masters in competitions. Additionally, various robotics companies are showcasing real-world applications, demonstrating the diverse capabilities of robots across different job roles.

According to data from Qingtian Rent, a robot rental service platform, orders during this year's Spring Festival surged nearly 70 percent compared to the previous month, covering all 31 provincial-level administrative regions across the country. The breakdown of orders includes 34 percent for entertainment performances, 31 percent for commercial marketing, 19 percent for educational and cultural tourism purposes, and 16 percent for life events and emotional consumption.

Meanwhile, orders related to festive scenarios, such as Spring Festival greetings, temple fairs, and mall events, accounted for over 54 percent, with a year-on-year growth of more than 76 percent.

"The bustling activity in the robotics industry during the Spring Festival not only highlights the resilience and tremendous potential of the sector but also provides a significant opportunity for technology to transition from labs to everyday life, moving from mere demonstrations to practical applications. The sudden surge in demand for entertainment, commercial services, cultural interactions, and family companionship is driving the robotics industry’s transformation from 'single product sales' to 'scene-based services,'" said Zhong Xinlong, associate researcher of future industry research at the China Center for Information Industry Development.