A Shenzhen Retrospective | Part III: A city block full of robots

2026/10/21

The entrance to the AIR Robot Block shopping and exhibition street in Longgang district, Shenzhen city, south China's Guangdong Province. (People's Daily/Andrew Smith)

Our third day in Shenzhen found us going even deeper into the city's innovative industries and development of high-quality productive forces. That morning, we ended up taking a tour of Longgang district's AIR Robot Block - an entire street dedicated to showcasing and selling new forms of robotic and AI technology.

The AIR Robot Block shopping and exhibition street in Longgang district, Shenzhen city, south China's Guangdong Province. (People's Daily/Andrew Smith)

Shenzhen is already quickly becoming a city synonymous with the forefront of robotics, but the AIR Robot Block is the perfect place for everyday people to come meet robots in person, attend the unveiling of new products, try out new AI-powered technologies themselves and purchase hot high-tech commodities to add them to their daily lives.

One of the first things that caught my eye was the showcase for Holistic Smart Senior Care. Robot caregivers, AI-powered "smart beds" and new biotechnology to help monitor the health and daily needs of senior citizens were on display and gave a deep sense that in the near future, retirees will find themselves living much more comfortable and safe golden years thanks to the help of AI.

An exhibition of smart senior care products at the AIR Robot Block in Longgang district, Shenzhen city, south China's Guangdong Province. (People's Daily/Andrew Smith)

The second exhibition to catch my eye was the AI Education Exhibition Hall - a model "classroom of the future." Far from replacing teachers with robots, however, the "classroom of the future" will aid in easier collaboration between students, quicker access to information and resources, and more interactive learning experiences.

A model "classroom of the future" exhibiting AI and robotic technology on display at the AIR Robot Block in Longgang district, Shenzhen city, south China's Guangdong Province. (People's Daily/Andrew Smith)

Continuing with the concept of AI aiding in future healthcare, I visited the EYEKU exhibit, which demonstrated the company's latest advancements in smart eyewear and eyecare. EYEKU's new technology can help diagnose visual acuity, prescribe appropriate eyewear and identify and treat various ocular issues. As someone who wears glasses myself, it's a medical innovation that really catches my eye.

At the end of the AIR Robot Block, however, is the crown jewel of this entire futuristic shopping street: the Shenzhen Robot 6S Store. Here, you can buy, rent or repair a robot, buy or rent parts for a robot you already own, or enjoy the services of the store's robot employees- baristas in their café, or waiters in their dining hall. I saw one woman taking a robot dog for a walk, and watched a couple order a glass of juice from a robot arm.

The entrance to the Robot 6S Store in Longgang district, Shenzhen city, south China's Guangdong Province. (People's Daily/Andrew Smith)

The final high-tech treat of my journey down the Robot Block was the robot dance show. There, a crowd of onlookers from around the world watched a team of robots dance, do tricks with various objects and even practice a bit of kung fu.

A team of robots dance, do tricks and perform kung fu for an audience at the Robot 6S Store in Longgang district, Shenzhen city, south China's Guangdong Province. (People's Daily/Andrew Smith)

Within just a few hundred meters, the city of Shenzhen has built a shopping street that already has the future right at our fingertips: making everyday life easier and more interesting in almost every aspect. As my colleagues and I have repeatedly said across this entire trip: "In China, the future is here."