Unitree Robots Stun Millions with Cyber Kung Fu Performance at China's Lunar New Year Gala

On the eve of the Lunar New Year, China’s most-watched television event took an unprecedented turn when humanoid robots from Unitree Robotics performed a synchronized martial arts routine live on CCTV’s Spring Festival Gala, captivating an estimated 520 million viewers nationwide. The performance, titled "Cyber Real Kung Fu," blended ancient Chinese martial arts with cutting-edge robotics, marking a historic fusion of cultural heritage and technological innovation.

According to MarketWatch, the robots—equipped with Unitree’s newly developed dexterous hands—executed precise strikes, fluid transitions, and even manipulated traditional props such as staffs and swords with remarkable stability and timing. The routine, choreographed using AI-driven motion planning algorithms, required millisecond-level coordination across multiple robotic units, each operating independently yet in perfect unison. The performance was not pre-recorded; it was executed live, underscoring the robustness of Unitree’s real-time control systems and sensor fusion capabilities.

Unitree Robotics, a Hangzhou-based company known for its consumer-grade quadruped robots like the Go2 and AlienGo, has rapidly expanded into humanoid robotics with its B1 and upcoming A2 models. The gala appearance was the public debut of its next-generation humanoid platform, featuring enhanced joint torque, adaptive balance, and low-latency perception via proprietary 4D LiDAR systems. According to Unitree’s official website, these systems enable robots to navigate dynamic environments and respond to environmental stimuli with human-like reflexes—capabilities that were put to the test during the high-stakes broadcast.

The performance was not merely a spectacle. Analysts suggest it served as a strategic national showcase of China’s leadership in consumer robotics. As global competition intensifies—with companies like Tesla, Boston Dynamics, and Agility Robotics racing to commercialize humanoid robots—China’s state-backed media platform provided an unparalleled stage to demonstrate technological sovereignty. The Lunar New Year Gala, traditionally a celebration of family and tradition, became a symbolic canvas for projecting China’s vision of a future where machines harmonize with cultural identity.

Viewers on social media flooded platforms with reactions, with hashtags like #CyberKungFu and #UnitreeGala trending across Weibo and Douyin. Many noted the emotional resonance of seeing robots perform Tai Chi and Shaolin forms, with one user writing, "It’s not just machines—it’s our heritage, reimagined." Educational institutions have already begun incorporating footage of the performance into robotics curricula, while industry insiders predict a surge in demand for consumer and service-oriented humanoid robots in the coming year.

Unitree has not disclosed pricing or commercial release dates for the gala robots, but the company confirmed that its B1 and A2 platforms are already in pilot deployments with Chinese public safety and logistics firms. The integration of martial arts choreography into training simulations may soon become standard for robotic assistants in elderly care and cultural tourism, where human-robot interaction requires both precision and cultural sensitivity.

As the world watches China’s robotics revolution unfold, the Lunar New Year Gala performance stands as more than a technical triumph—it is a cultural statement. In a single, seamless routine, Unitree robots didn’t just move; they told a story: that the future of technology in China is not cold or impersonal, but deeply rooted in tradition, refined by innovation, and broadcast to the world with pride.

Sources: Unitree Robotics official website (unitree.com), MarketWatch press release, eWEEK report on 2026 Lunar New Year Gala