Humanoid Robots Make History in Beijing’s First-Ever Half-Marathon

In a world-first spectacle blending technology and endurance, dozens of humanoid robots took to the streets of Beijing on Saturday, participating in a half-marathon that pushed the limits of robotics innovation. The 21-kilometre race, held in the E-Town district — a state-supported hub for high-tech manufacturing — marked a major milestone in China’s ongoing quest to lead the global race in artificial intelligence and robotics.

At the sound of the starter’s gun and the upbeat rhythm of the Chinese pop song “I Believe” echoing through loudspeakers, the androids stepped forward—some tentatively, others confidently—as engineers and spectators lined the route. Thousands of human runners joined the event, with curious onlookers holding up smartphones to capture the history-making moment.

One small android stumbled early, lying flat for several minutes before rising to cheers from the crowd. Another, styled like a Transformer and propelled by mini-rotors, dramatically veered across the starting line, colliding with a barrier and knocking over an engineer—an unexpected moment that drew laughter and applause.

“This may seem like a small step for humans, but it’s a giant leap for humanoid robots,” said Liang Liang, deputy director of Beijing E-Town’s management committee. “The marathon helps bring humanoid robots one step closer to industrial application.”

Approximately 20 teams from across China participated in the pioneering event. The humanoids ranged in height from 75 to 180 centimetres (about 2.5 to 5.9 feet) and weighed up to 88 kilograms (194 pounds). Some robots ran entirely on their own, while others were remotely guided by engineers. To ensure safety and performance tracking, machines and humans raced on parallel tracks.

The primary aim wasn’t to determine which robot crossed the finish line first, but rather to test endurance, battery life, structural integrity, and algorithm efficiency. Engineers stressed that simply completing the marathon under real-world conditions would be a breakthrough in itself.

“For us, this is a big boost to the entire robotics industry,” said Cui Wenhao, a 28-year-old engineer from Noetix Robotics. “We rarely get the opportunity to run our systems for extended distances like this. It’s a serious trial for every component—from the motors and battery to the AI algorithms that guide movement.”

Cui noted that in preparation for the event, one of their humanoids had been trained to run a half-marathon daily at a pace of about seven minutes per kilometre. Confident in its performance, he still admitted, “Just in case, we’ve also prepared a backup robot.”

At DroidUp, another participating robotics firm, 25-year-old engineer Kong Yichang emphasized the long-term significance of the event. “This race lays the groundwork for many future scenarios where humanoid robots operate alongside humans in daily life. It’s a first step toward integration.”

China’s technological ambition has been evident in its recent AI breakthroughs, including DeepSeek, a Chinese startup that claimed in January to have developed a high-performing chatbot more affordably than American counterparts. Similarly, dancing humanoid robots stole the spotlight during the country’s widely watched Chinese New Year gala earlier this year.

Events like the humanoid half-marathon reinforce China’s push to solidify its status as a global tech powerhouse and rival to the United States in AI development and robotics. E-Town’s investment in cutting-edge initiatives reflects broader national goals to accelerate industrial innovation and technological self-reliance.

What made the event especially compelling was not just the robotics spectacle, but the humanlike resilience and charm displayed by the machines. From stumbles and recoveries to synchronized strides and unexpected crashes, the race brought these mechanical competitors closer to human reality—not just in form, but in experience.

And as engineers jogged beside their robots, guiding them, troubleshooting glitches, and celebrating each small success, the message was clear: the future is fast approaching, and it may arrive on two robotic legs.

Team Maverick