Police in Guangzhou, capital of south China's Guangdong Province, rolled out a futuristic patrol lineup featuring humanoid robots, drones, and self-balancing scooters, harnessing smart technologies to enhance public safety and community engagement this May Day holiday, which runs from May 1 to 5.
At a park on Ersha Island, a humanoid police officer stole the show. Dressed in a police safety vest, the robot walked alongside officers on patrol, performed martial arts moves and delivered anti-fraud reminders to the crowd.
Serving as the local police station's "publicity officer," the humanoid uses an interactive broadcast system to raise public awareness about scams.
"With the robot accompanying us on patrol, citizens tend to linger around us longer and are more receptive to our anti-fraud messages. That makes them less vulnerable to scams," said Li Xupeng, an officer from the Yuexiu District patrol and SWAT unit.
Another tool in their smart policing kit is designed for areas where cars and motorcycles cannot easily access. Using self-balancing scooters that can reach a top speed of 20 kilometers per hour, officers can swiftly navigate parks and reach people in need of help.
"Motor vehicles are not allowed inside this park. If someone on the other side calls for assistance, we can get to them very quickly. We will carry emergency supplies and rescue items in the scooter, so if someone has fallen or been injured, we can provide on-site medical aid," said Xie Xiaocan, an officer from a local police station.
Police also deployed drones during the holiday to conduct aerial patrols in coordination with ground forces, monitor crowd flow and traffic in real time, and create a multi-layered security network.
Guangdong police roll out futuristic patrol lineup with humanoid robots, drones
The 2026 Beijing International Automotive Exhibition, or Auto China 2026, wrapped up on Sunday, shattering multiple global records as visitors voiced strong optimism about the future of China's auto industry.
The 10-day show, which opened on April 24 under the theme "Future of Intelligence," set a new global record for scale.
Spanning 380,000 square meters across two venues, it featured 1,451 vehicles on display -- including 181 premieres and 71 concept cars.
On attendance, this year's auto show attracted a total of 1.28 million visits, including approximately 65,000 made by overseas attendees.
New energy vehicles (NEVs) at the show caught attention of many international visitors.
Chinese automotive electronics firm AutoLink used the show to present a next-generation vehicle electronic and electrical architecture, and at BYD's fast-charging booth, a NEV charged from 20 to 97 percent in just 12 minutes.
In 2025, domestic production and sales of NEVs both exceeded 16 million units, with NEVs accounting for over 50 percent of new car sales on the domestic market.
"It's actually nice to see most electric cars here. We don't have so much electric cars in South Africa, where I come from. So it's actually amazing," said a visitor. This year's auto show also introduced car fans to new types of vehicles -- from minimalist leisure cars with ultra-simple cockpits and cyber-style rugged pickups to electric rotor-craft -- all of which expanded visitors' imagination of future mobility.
"I'm most excited about self-driving cars, as they can free us humans from driving, and I also look forward to seeing more cutting-edge technologies, like flying cars," said another visitor.
At this year's auto show, the global automotive industry shows more evident trend toward electrification and intelligent transformation.
Nearly 80 percent of the new models unveiled were NEVs, while Chinese independent brands accounted for 60 percent of the total.
According to an organizer of the exhibition, future editions will place greater emphasis on enhancing the event's international reach, and efforts will be also made to achieve comprehensive brand and value extension across the entire automotive industrial chain, including after-market sectors.
"We expect China's auto industry to achieve coordinated integration in both complete vehicles and high-end components during its expansion to overseas markets. Through platforms like the Beijing International Automotive Exhibition, we expect to facilitate exchanges between domestic and international automotive technologies, brands, and cultures, helping Chinese automobiles reach global markets more effectively," said Wang Junqing, deputy director-general of the automotive sub-council of China Council for the Promotion of International Trade.
Auto China 2026 wraps up after setting multiple new records
