China's tech-driven experiences are becoming a new draw for overseas visitors, with robots, new energy vehicles (NEVs) and autonomous driving technologies joining traditional landmarks on travel itineraries in Shanghai.
At a robotics experience center in Shanghai, foreign visitors were wowed by a robotic dog capable of walking, jumping and performing backflips, and had the chance to interact with a humanoid robot.
"It's really cool. It actually looks like a human," said Cora, a young girl from New Zealand.
"Beyond my expectations. I thought that was just a prototype, that it wasn't that accessible, and it's quite amazing. It's quite amazing. There are a lot more agile than I thought there would be. Well, the dancing was quite controlled and it didn't fall," said another New Zealand visitor named Alex.
According to its manager, the robotics experience center has received over a thousand visits from overseas visitors just four months into business.
"Foreign visitors accounted for over 50 percent of our foot traffic. They want to know how advanced the robots have and we've received some related orders," said Xiang Guanghu, a manager of the robotics experience center.
As China leads the world in NEV development, NEV showrooms have also become a must-see for some international travelers.
"I usually see it online and I kind of like it. When you see it, there are more features that the car has and is the best. Some experience, maybe like the way you open doors and the sound system in the car, it's very nice. Also, about the driving system, Chinese technologies going very fast," said Jackson, a visitor from Tanzania.
To tap into the growing demand for tech tourism, some travel agencies have begun offering customized experiences for foreign visitors.
"The vast majority of our clients are senior executives. They typically visit China either as individual management teams or as corporate groups. We tailor our services to their specific needs, integrating elements of Chinese technology such as drone delivery services and autonomous vehicle experiences into their travel itineraries," said Shen Boyang, manager of a Chinese travel agency.
Tech tours emerge as new magnet for global visitors in Shanghai
