During this year's two sessions, a humanoid robot named "Kuafu" appeared on the streets of Beijing, engaging citizens with fluid movements and intelligent conversations while assisting media interviews. Developed by Leju (Shenzhen) Robotics Technology Co., Ltd., Kuafu showcases Guangdong’s growing dominance in the humanoid robotics sector.

Humanoid robots are regarded as the ideal carriers of embodied intelligence, and Guangdong has become a hub for technological enterprises racing to industrialize this field. This growth is backed by the province’s strong industrial foundation—38% of the global humanoid robot supply chain is based in China, with 57% of those companies located in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.

Guangdong's well-established manufacturing sector and diverse consumer market provide a favorable environment for companies transitioning into humanoid robotics, according to Xie Keqiang, chief researcher at the Software and Systems Research Institute of the Fifth Electronics Research Institute of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology.

One such company, Guangzhou Ligong Industrial Co., Ltd., developed the humanoid robot "Ligong D1" in less than six months. "Industrial and humanoid robots share many core technologies, such as control systems, motors, and components. Our company has accumulated a decade of expertise in AI," said Li Weichong, president of Ligong Industrial.

Guangdong is further accelerating its humanoid robotics industry with strong policy support. The recently released an action plan emphasizes the development of embodied intelligence robots, calling for breakthroughs in machine intelligence, movement, structural design, and core components. The plan aims to nurture three to five unicorn or leading tech enterprises in the sector.

In 2024, Guangdong's industrial robot production exceeded 240,000 units, marking a 31.2% increase and accounting for 44% of the national total—maintaining its position as China’s top producer for the fifth consecutive year. With decades of development, Guangdong has become the country’s largest intelligent robotics hub and is now striving to establish itself as a global leader in humanoid robotics.