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In Bazhong, two Tiangong humanoids from the Beijing Humanoid Robotics Innovation Center rowed alongside six local athletes. As part of an event towards the World Humanoid Robot Games, the Chinese robots also pounded rice and prepared zongzi, which engineers consider an advancement.
Chinese robots trained for two weeks to row in a dragon boat at the Sichuan Festival, took full control when humans stopped rowing, and even made rice dumplings in one of the most unusual tests ever conducted with humanoids. The scene united tradition and technology in Sichuan province, in southwest China.
During the Dragon Boat Festival, humanoids from Beijing rowed alongside human rowers and learned to make glutinous rice dumplings and dumplings. The demonstration was part of an energy relay event towards the 2026 World Humanoid Robot Games, which made its second stop in the country in Bazhong, Sichuan. At the Enyang Dragon Boat Sports Park, a boat carrying humans and robots transported two Tiangong humanoids from the Beijing Humanoid Robotics Innovation Center, along with six young local rowers. The robots underwent more than two weeks of training, first at Shichahai Lake in Beijing, and then in the rivers of Bazhong, and the Games will take place from August 22 to 26, with more than 30 events.
Two weeks of training to row like humans
According to information from bastillepost, at the Enyang Dragon Boat Sports Park in Bazhong, a collaborative boat transported two Tiangong robots from the Beijing Humanoid Robotics Innovation Center, along with six young local rowers. These Chinese robots underwent more than two weeks of adaptive training, first at Shichahai Lake in Beijing, and then in the rivers of Bazhong.
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The goal was to synchronize mechanical movements with the rhythms of human teamwork. Initially, the robots seemed a bit clumsy, but after several rounds of adjustments, they began to get the hang of it, with control of the oars becoming increasingly sophisticated and coordination with the human team improving considerably.
When the humans stopped, the robots took over
To truly test the capabilities of the Chinese robots, the human rowers completely stopped rowing and let the machines take full control of the boat. According to the report, the boat continued to move forward, slowly but steadily.
Rowing a dragon boat is no simple task, as it requires a continuous and rapid sequence of lifting, lowering, pulling, and releasing the oar, which demands strength, synchronization, and precision. To replicate this movement, the engineers optimized the robots’ waist movements, which, according to them, made the rowing much more fluid and similar to human rowing.
From Oars to Zongzi Rice Dumplings
Using similar principles, the Chinese robots also participated in the traditional activity of pounding glutinous rice to make rice dumplings, which the developers describe as a real test of dynamic balance and the ability to withstand disturbances. The proposal was to take the humanoids beyond rowing.
The robots even ventured to make zongzi, the iconic glutinous rice dumplings of the festival, washing the rice and handling the ingredients. According to the report, they achieved a significant breakthrough in water resistance, and the team frames the feat as a small step towards domestic robots capable of working safely in kitchens, bathrooms, and other wet environments.
On the Way to the World Humanoid Robot Games
The demonstration with the Chinese robots was part of an energy relay event towards the 2026 World Humanoid Robot Games. The event made its second stop in the country in Bazhong, Sichuan, taking the humanoids out of the lab and into festive real-world scenes.
Described as the first international sports games dedicated exclusively to humanoid robots, the World Humanoid Robot Games will hold its second edition from August 22 to 26, in Beijing. With more than 30 events, the competition promises to showcase the latest advances in embedded intelligence and precise manipulation capabilities.
The demonstration with the Chinese robots at the Dragon Boat Festival in Sichuan combined tradition and technology: after more than two weeks of training, two Tiangong robots rowed alongside six local athletes, took full control of the boat when the humans stopped, and even pounded rice and made zongzi.
According to the developers, the tests showed advances in balance, coordination, and water resistance, presented as steps towards domestic robots capable of operating in wet environments, although these are claims by the team behind the project.
The episode is part of the preparation for the World Humanoid Robot Games, scheduled for August 22 to 26, in Beijing, an event that is expected to once again showcase the progress of humanoid robotics.
And you, what did you think of the Chinese robots rowing in a dragon boat and making rice dumplings? Would you trust a robot in your kitchen? Share your opinion and exchange ideas with other readers about robotics and technology.
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