Final rehearsal for World Humanoid Robot Games opening ceremony ends in Beijing

The final comprehensive rehearsal for 2025 World Humanoid Robot Games (WHRG) opening ceremony was completed on Wednesday evening.

Jointly hosted by Beijing municipal government and China Media Group (CMG), the three-day games was scheduled for Aug. 15 to 17, and it marks the world's first multi-sport competition for humanoid robots.

The opening ceremony was designed to blend innovative ideas with artistic performances and advanced technologies, providing the audience with an audio-visual feast.

Human performers share the stage seamlessly with humanoid robots, staging innovative scenes like Chinese opera, martial-arts, and fashion show.

"Nearly a hundred performers, 300 humanoid robots, and a backstage crew of more than 300 engineers have collaborated to craft this visual spectacle. After seven or eight full-scale large rehearsals, and the synthesis of some individual programs, we've refined the show to the level tonight. Every highlight of the humanoid robots will be distilled into the short opening ceremony," said Lan Meng, chief director of the opening ceremony. "Through artistic forms like singing and dancing, we can experience the development of Chinese science and technology. I believe that with the continuous development of science and technology, there will surely be more unimaginable and infinite expressions," said Liu Yuxin, Chinese singer who will perform with robot dancers at the opening ceremony.

A total of 280 teams from 16 countries with over 500 robots will compete in 26 events comprising 538 sub-events.

The events scheduled for Aug. 15 will include 400-meter and 1,500-meter track and field competitions, 3v3 and 5v5 soccer matches, and martial arts and dance performances, along with those featuring practical scenarios in the fields of hospitality, industrial, and pharmaceuticals, among others.

On Aug 16, the 100-meter obstacle race will ignite a showdown on speed, followed by high jump, gymnastics, and freestyle combat which will take center stage one after another.

On Aug. 17, the 4x100-meter relay race will test teamwork, while soccer and combat events will reach their finals. Alongside scenario-based competitions, these will showcase the capabilities and potential of humanoid robots.

Final rehearsal for World Humanoid Robot Games opening ceremony ends in Beijing

Final rehearsal for World Humanoid Robot Games opening ceremony ends in Beijing

Final rehearsal for World Humanoid Robot Games opening ceremony ends in Beijing

Final rehearsal for World Humanoid Robot Games opening ceremony ends in Beijing

A former television host from Taiwan, Zhai Xuan, has made a pivotal decision to leave mainstream broadcasting in order to create content that provides a better understanding of the Chinese mainland and cross-strait relations.

Zhai, a seasoned television host with over a decade of experience in Taiwan's media landscape, recently addressed an audience at an event in Beijing, where she revealed her complete transition into independent online media.

In her remarks, she articulated her aspiration to bridge what she perceives as a significant information gap between audiences on both sides of the Strait, highlighting her commitment to fostering a deeper understanding and connection through her new endeavors.

"I was really surprised by all the fake news. There were stories saying people on the mainland can't afford tea eggs or that they live in mud houses and in Taiwan, this was the main information many people received," said Zhai.

Zhai said she initially began producing online videos to challenge such perceptions while continuing her work as a television host.

In April 2025, she travelled to the mainland with her father to fulfill her late grandfather's wish to return to his hometown. The trip, which reunited family members separated since 1949, was recorded in a video series titled "Journey to Find Our Roots", drawing attention from viewers in both Taiwan and the mainland.

"Many people in Taiwan told me that after watching, they wanted to apply for a mainland travel permit immediately and go looking for their relatives. Some had long forgotten these things, but after seeing my story, they began thinking about their hometowns and family members they had never met and decided to search for their roots," Zhai shared her story at the event.

By mid-2025, Zhai said she began to feel increasing pressure amid rising political tensions and a tightening atmosphere around cross-Strait exchanges in Taiwan.

After more than 12 years in the industry, Zhai resigned from her position, believing it was the right thing to do.

"At that moment, I felt this was a major issue，not just for me, but for Chinese people on both sides of the Strait. If I backed down then, I wouldn’t be standing on the right side," said Zhai.

Since leaving television, Zhai has broadened her online programming to encompass a range of daily-life topics, including practical guidance on applying for a mainland travel permit and using commonly employed mobile applications, in addition to content that delves into historical memory and cultural connections across the Strait.

As the debate over cross-Strait relations continues in Taiwan, Zhai said she remains committed to her current path.

Former Taiwan TV host bridges cross-Strait divide via online media