The streets of Shenzhen City have filled with dancing robots as south China's high-tech hub kicks off a campaign to showcase the state of innovation to travelers during the weeklong National Day holiday, which began on Thursday.
At Xinghe Plaza in the city's Longgang District, some robots perform traditional lion dances while others show off more modern moves, attracting crowds of locals and tourists.
The buzz has drawn visitors to a full-service robot store in the plaza, where shoppers can see humanoid robots play the piano, perform stand-up comedy, and play classic board games.
"I think I was really surprised. They could do so many things, so many cool things. Really nice to see. I think in the future, they can do even more things than now," said a French tourist in the store.
"On the first day of the National Day holiday, our foot traffic grew by more than 30 percent compared with the same period last year, with total sales doubling," said Zhou Fangzheng, executive manager of the store, which provides full customization services for buyers.
Nearby at a brightly colored outdoor coffee stall, a robot fully mans the operations. A pair of foreign tourists were thoroughly impressed when the robot served up a drink with their photograph printed on the foam.
"I think the future will look like this," said a tourist from Romania.
The tech experience extends beyond robots. At the Longgang International Art Center, China's first art museum built on the HarmonyOS smart system, digital technology and motion seating work together to create an immersive experience in which visitors can travel through time and space and see the future firsthand.
In Shenzhen's commercial districts, many stores are also enabling tourists to design their own souvenirs using AI, 3D printing, and laser engraving.
"Thanks to advances in AI algorithms, 3D printing, UV printing, and laser engraving, customers can make their own souvenirs by hand in under a minute," said Wang Hanyu, head of a creative product flagship store.
As Shenzhen becomes an increasingly popular destination for holidaymakers, people from around the world are gaining fresh insights into the direction of technology.
Shenzhen offers tech-packed experience for National Day holidaymakers
Peng Liyuan, wife of Chinese President Xi Jinping and special envoy of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) for the advancement of girls' and women's education, called for the international community to vigorously develop digital and intelligent education for women, to ensure that they can use and benefit from digital and intelligent technologies.
Peng made the remarks via video link at the award ceremony of the 2026 UNESCO Prize for Girls' and Women's Education, held on Friday local time in Paris, France.
Noting that girls' and women's education remains an arduous task, she also urged the international community to work together to enhance women's vocational education and training and build them a ladder to a life of brilliance.
Peng extended warm congratulations to this year's laureates who are from Morocco and Peru. Noting that girls' and women's education is a key measure of the progress of human civilization, she said in recent years, thanks to UNESCO's strong advocacy and the international community's concerted efforts, encouraging progress in this worthy cause has been achieved.
Stressing that China has always set great store by girls' and women's education, Peng said China is committed to helping women in China to receive better education and live a life of purpose.
"At the same time, we are also actively and extensively carrying out practical cooperation with UNESCO and relevant parties, and have implemented a number of programs, benefiting women across the globe," Peng added.
She said that China's efforts over recent years in using AI to empower quality education have not only boosted gender equality in education and women's all-round development, but also provided useful experience for fellow Global South countries.
In advancing girls' and women's education, hope is sown, dreams are nurtured, and happiness will be reaped in abundance, she said.
"As the UNESCO Prize for Girls' and Women's Education enters a new decade, I stand ready to work with all of you to promote greater progress in girls' and women's education, and contribute to a brighter future in which more women can thrive and shine," Peng added.
Since China established the prize in cooperation with UNESCO in 2015, the award has continued to exert a positive impact and received extensive attention and high recognition from the international community.
Peng Liyuan calls for int'l community to advance women's education for access to digital, intelligent technologies
