Beijing Unveils World's First Robot Shopping Mall, Revolutionizing Retail in E-Town

On August 8, 2025, Beijing inaugurated the world's first dedicated robot shopping mall, the "Robot Mall," in the high-tech E-Town district. This four-story, 4,000-square-meter facility operates on a "4S" model—Sales, Service, Spare parts, and Surveys—mirroring the structure of automobile dealerships. The mall showcases over 100 types of robots from more than 40 domestic manufacturers, including prominent brands like Ubtech Robotics and Unitree Robotics. The product range spans from consumer gadgets priced at approximately $278 to advanced humanoid robots costing several million dollars. Notable exhibits include life-sized replicas of Albert Einstein, robotic dogs, chess-playing machines, and animatronic figures of historical personalities such as Emperor Qin Shi Huang and poet Li Bai. The mall also features practical robots designed for tasks like cooking, coffee-making, medicine dispensing, painting, and sports activities. An adjacent robot-themed restaurant offers an immersive dining experience with robot bartenders, a robot band, and robotic chefs.

The opening of the Robot Mall coincided with the 2025 World Robot Conference, held from August 8 to 12 in Beijing, underscoring China's commitment to advancing and commercializing humanoid robotics technology.

The Robot Mall's "4S" operational model—Sales, Service, Spare parts, and Surveys—parallels that of automobile dealerships, providing a comprehensive platform for consumers to engage with robotic technologies. The facility features over 100 types of robots from more than 40 domestic manufacturers, including leading companies like Ubtech Robotics and Unitree Robotics. Products range from consumer gadgets priced at approximately $278 to advanced humanoid robots costing several million dollars.

Notable exhibits include life-sized replicas of Albert Einstein, robotic dogs, chess-playing machines, and animatronic figures of historical personalities such as Emperor Qin Shi Huang and poet Li Bai. The mall also showcases practical robots designed for tasks like cooking, coffee-making, medicine dispensing, painting, and sports activities. An adjacent robot-themed restaurant offers an immersive dining experience with robot bartenders, a robot band, and robotic chefs.

The opening of the Robot Mall coincided with the 2025 World Robot Conference, held from August 8 to 12 in Beijing. The conference, themed "Making Robots Smarter, Making Embodied Agents More Intelligent," featured over 1,500 exhibits from more than 200 leading robotics companies worldwide. A key feature was the debut of over 100 cutting-edge products, nearly twice as many as the previous year, highlighting the conference's growing role as a global stage for innovation. Humanoid robots remained a major attraction, with 50 manufacturers showcasing their latest innovations.

In 2024, China accounted for two-thirds of global robot patent applications and produced 556,000 industrial robots, maintaining its position as the world's top manufacturer. Over the past decade, the number of international supporting institutions at the conference has grown from 12 to 28, while overseas participants have increased from just over 10 to more than 80, according to Xu Xiaolan, president of the Chinese Institute of Electronics.

The inauguration of the Robot Mall signifies a pivotal moment in the integration of robotics into daily life, reflecting China's strategic emphasis on advancing humanoid robotics technology. This development is poised to influence various sectors, including retail, hospitality, and healthcare, by introducing automation and AI-driven solutions. The mall serves as a platform for domestic manufacturers to showcase their innovations, potentially accelerating the commercialization and adoption of robotic technologies. However, it also raises considerations regarding employment, as increased automation may impact traditional job roles.

The opening of Beijing's Robot Mall marks a significant milestone in the commercialization of robotics, reflecting China's commitment to integrating advanced technologies into the consumer market. As the world's first dedicated robot shopping mall, it offers a unique glimpse into the future of retail and automation, setting a precedent for similar initiatives globally.