China's dancing robots have sparked a hiring frenzy during the Lunar New Year period. From mall events to company year-end parties, organizers are vying to book these high-tech temp workers for live performances, pushing daily wages as high as 8,000 RMB (4,542 MYR). Some robots have been pushed so hard by dense performance schedules that their 'shoe soles are worn out' or they're 'smoking from overwork,' requiring factory repairs.
According to reports from the Changjiang Daily and Red Star Capital Bureau, these highly futuristic dancing robots have become the main attraction for this year's Lunar New Year. Enterprises are booking robots for annual events, shopping mall expos, cultural and tourism promotions, and even school openings—using them as entertainers or presenters.
● Orders Booked Past the New Year
The report says that rental demand for robots surged even before the holiday, with orders booked up through and beyond the Spring Festival. Most daily wages are around 5,000 RMB (2,839 MYR), with some robot models going as high as 8,000 RMB.
According to related sales channels, rental rates for performing robots during the New Year have jumped by 500 to 1,000 RMB (284 to 568 MYR) per unit per day, with prices during the Spring Festival increasing by as much as 100%.
For basic robots with simple interaction, the average daily rental is 2,000 RMB (1,136 MYR), increased to 3,500 RMB (1,987 MYR) during the New Year. For robots able to dance or perform lion dances, the rate goes from 4,000 RMB (2,272 MYR) per day to 6,000 RMB (3,408 MYR); top-tier dancing robots can command 8,000 RMB daily during the holiday. Businesses also prefer longer contracts, usually with a minimum rental of 7 days during the holiday period; prices for shorter periods may be doubled.
● Unitree Robotics Leads the Market
Rental agent Chen Xing revealed that, before the holiday, demand mainly came from annual company parties—slots are already fully booked. During the Spring Festival, venues like scenic spots, malls, and parks make up most of the orders. After the holiday, corporate work-resumption ceremonies, Lantern Festival activities, and school openings are also hot scenarios for robot use.
Sales staff pointed out that, due to frequent performances, some robots may need to rush between three venues in a single day, causing significant wear and tear— 'the soles are worn out,' and some are even 'smoking' and need emergency returns to the factory for repairs. According to Chen Xing, unlike other digital products, robot rentals don't let clients operate the machines directly due to the technology and risk of damage: 'Sending it back to the factory not only takes at least half a month, but repair bills are usually in the tens of thousands.'
As for leading brands in the market, Unitree Robotics—whose robots made a notable appearance at last year's CCTV Spring Festival Gala—leads with its latest performing robot, the Unitree U2. The next most popular brand is Zhiyuan's "Lingxi" series, with the best-selling model, Lingxi X2 Youth Edition, renting for about 3,500 RMB per day.