China's robots take their place at factory machines
In China, humanoid robots are moving from logistics centres to production floors, as the country accelerates its transition to intelligent manufacturing. When humanoid machines, which only yesterday seemed like science fiction, begin sorting parcels faster than humans, and their fingers with the precision of a jeweller assemble parts on car assembly lines, the line between science fiction and reality blurs. China, long known as the "world's factory", is today becoming the "world's laboratory" of automation, where humanoid robots are not just tools but full participants in the production process. From logistics centres in Guangzhou to assembly workshops in Beijing, these machines are not replacing people but taking on the most monotonous and heavy work, freeing human labour for creativity and management. And when a robot processes 1,200 parcels per hour, and its productivity is planned to be raised to 1,600, it becomes clear: a new industrial era has arrived, and it looks like a steel silhouette moving with flawless precision.
In a logistics centre in Guangzhou, Guangdong Province in southern China, humanoid robots are used for identifying, picking and sorting parcels, with each robot capable of handling up to 1,200 parcels per hour. "This work is relatively intensive and monotonous. We introduced this intelligent robot in March this year. It can now recognise, pick, flip, place and sort parcels. We expect that in the fourth quarter of this year, robot productivity will reach 1,400 parcels per hour, and in the first quarter of next year – 1,600 parcels per hour. At the same time, we are also exploring the use of robots for loading, unloading and distributing goods in the warehouse," said Wang Lei, head of operations and maintenance at the Guangzhou Postal Centre of China Post. Beyond logistics, humanoid robots are also taking on more production tasks at enterprises. At a car factory in Beijing's E‑Town district, home to more than 300 robotics companies with a complete production chain, humanoid robots are honing precise operations such as picking and placing parts, installing flexible covers and folding boxes. "The first task is picking and placing objects. The second involves dexterous finger work, and the third requires precise tactile assembly and manipulation. At a single workstation, they can achieve a 98 percent success rate," said Xiang Diyun, deputy general manager of the robotics division of Chinese tech company Xiaomi.
China is actively developing robotics under the "Made in China 2025" strategy and the 14th Five‑Year Plan, where automation and intelligent manufacturing are named key priorities. According to China's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, the industrial robotics market in China exceeded 80 billion yuan in 2025, with growth rates remaining in double digits. Humanoid robots are a new frontier promising a revolution not only in logistics but also in healthcare, education and domestic services. Investment in R&D in this field is growing, and companies such as Xiaomi, UBTECH and DJI have already presented their commercial models. Experts predict that by 2030, humanoid robots will become common in warehouses and factories, and their cost will drop to levels affordable for medium‑sized businesses. However, the main challenge remains not technology but the adaptation of workplaces and workforce retraining, which both companies and the state need to address.
As CCTV+ reports, the mass deployment of humanoid robots in China is becoming not just a technological trend but a strategic choice that will determine the country's competitiveness in a new industrial reality where machines and people will work side by side.
