China Hosts World’s First Humanoid Half-Marathon as Robots Compete Against Humans

more than 20 bipedal robots lined up alongside humans in the world’s first-ever humanoid half-marathon held in China on Saturday.

The historic event took place in Beijing’s southeastern Yizhuang district, a high-tech hub home to many of the capital’s leading tech firms. Designed to test both robotic endurance and mobility, the race served as a vivid display of China’s rapid strides in humanoid robotics, an area where the country is eager to catch up with—and eventually compete against—technological powerhouses like the United States.

While the robots’ performance was far from matching that of their human counterparts, the event was seen more as a showcase of engineering potential than a competition of speed. Varying in shape, size, and build, the robots jogged, stumbled, and occasionally paused along the route, drawing crowds and curiosity.

Teams from several Chinese companies and universities participated, proudly presenting their custom-built humanoids. The head of the winning robot team acknowledged that while humans still hold the upper hand in endurance events, their creation is on par with Western counterparts in technical capability and is a sign of China’s growing competitiveness in humanoid innovation.

The event comes at a time when China’s robotic advancements have gone viral, with recent clips of humanoid robots riding bikes, performing acrobatic flips, and executing martial arts moves capturing public attention—often amplified by state media as part of the country’s push to position AI and robotics as key engines of future economic growth.

As the race to build the most capable humanoid intensifies globally, this half-marathon was more than just a novelty—it was a statement that China’s robots are learning to walk, run, and eventually, compete on the world stage.