A robot shakes hands with a girl in Nanxiang Ancient Town. [Photo/jiading.gov.cn]
Robots from the Intelligent Manufacturing and Robotics Global Joint Innovation Center (NiRIC) recently made an appearance in Nanxiang Ancient Town in Jiading district, Shanghai, where they interacted with visitors.
The robots began their journey in the historic alleys of Nanxiang, engaging with the community and transforming the town into a scene reminiscent of a sci-fi movie. They shook hands, played games, and interacted with locals, showcasing a blend of advanced technology and human-like empathy.
In addition, the robots performed various roles throughout the town. From singers entertaining in the town square to employees serving dumplings at local eateries, their presence was both novel and inspiring. They also appeared as futuristic visitors at the Shifang Art Academy and as new companions in schools.
This spectacle is part of a broader initiative to promote the integration of robots into daily life and to showcase advancements in robotics technology in Nanxiang. The town is committed to advancing the intelligent robotics industry and integrating it with smart manufacturing and cultural industries.
Nanxiang has been at the national forefront of manufacturing transformation and upgrading. By focusing on intelligent manufacturing and the robotics industry, the town has become a hub for innovation and development. With over 100 related enterprises operating here, the robotics industry in Nanxiang boasts an annual output value exceeding 5 billion yuan ($689 million).
To further accelerate the development of intelligent manufacturing and the robotics industry, Nanxiang has developed a comprehensive robotics industry chain map. This map focuses on developing application scenarios and leveraging unique industrial parks like the North Hongqiao Intelligent Manufacturing Industrial Park and Xiaomei Technology Park. These parks are advancing the development of indoor and outdoor robot application verification scenarios, creating training grounds for both embodied intelligence and humanoid robots.
Collaborations with top universities such as Fudan University, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, and Tongji University are also bringing in top robotics teams and innovations, establishing proof-of-concept centers and high-quality incubators through AI-powered smart factory construction.
Utilizing the resources of the Shanghai Robotics Institute, Nanxiang is promoting the creation of unique brands and fully integrating AI. This effort aims to accelerate the gathering of various upstream and downstream robotics enterprises and teams, forming an innovative cooperative ecosystem adhering to the "industrial IP + sci-tech R&D platform + park carrier + leading enterprises" model.
Following the launch of the Shanghai Jiading Nanxiang Ancient Town Tourism Development Enhancement Plan in 2024, Nanxiang is aligning with the national tourism brand standard known as "China Tourism Leisure Street". This initiative aims to lead the integration of traditional culture and intelligent technology into new tourism scenarios, where technology and culture seamlessly blend.
Robots join singers in Nanxiang Ancient Town. [Photo/jiading.gov.cn]
A robot waiter serves diners in Nanxiang Ancient Town. [Photo/jiading.gov.cn]