From Oil-Paper Umbrellas to AI Robotics: How 70 Years of Canton Fair Shopping Carts Map China's Industrial Evolution

At the inaugural Canton Fair in 1957, oil-paper umbrellas and handcrafted lacquerware were the prized hot-sellers. By the 140th edition in 2026, humanoid robots play table tennis with buyers, AI smart glasses translate languages in real time while snapping photos, and solar-paneled sun hats charge devices while streaming music. Over seventy years, the Canton Fair’s exhibition space has expanded from 9,600 square meters to 1.55 million square meters, while buyer attendance surged from 1,200 to over 300,000—solidifying its standing as China’s longest-running, largest, and most lucrative international trade expo.

A humanoid robot rallies in table tennis with an international buyer as crowds of overseas attendees gather behind the barrier to film. (Source: China News Service photo)

Overseas buyers learn about smart wearable products. (Source: Wen Wei Po photo)

By the close of Phase 1 (October 15–19, focused on Advanced Manufacturing), 189,000 overseas buyers from 214 countries and regions had attended in person—a 13.3% year-on-year surge that set an all-time record. If one were to rewind global merchants' "shopping carts" back seven decades, what emerges is the definitive story of "Chinamaxxing"—the evolution of China's manufacturing sector from basic production to high-end intelligent innovation.

The Service Robotics Zone: A Daily Influx of 25,000 Visitors

The most popular destination at this year's expo was the Service Robotics Zone, drawing an average of 25,000 visits per day. High-demand booths required crowd-control barriers, with visitors queuing up to an hour to test medical-grade exoskeleton devices. The most touching moment belonged to Susanna, a stroke survivor and British buyer: assisted by exhibitors, she strapped into an exoskeleton suit, stood up, and took her first slow steps in years, visibly overcome with emotion.

Susanna wears an exoskeleton robotic suit, taking measured steps with mechanical assistance. (Source: China.com photo)

A Singaporean distributor tests an exoskeleton suit on the exhibition floor. (Source: Wen Wei Po photo)

Hassan Al Marzouqi, a buyer from Dubai, could hardly contain his excitement: "These robots are incredibly impressive—I’m ready to buy them on the spot. They have huge potential for educational use in schools and kindergartens back home."

This enthusiasm is backed by hard industrial data: in the first half of 2026, China’s robotics exports reached RMB 24.85 billion—a 359% year-on-year surge—with Chinese manufacturers accounting for over 97% of global humanoid robot shipments.

From "Selling Off-the-Shelf" to "On-Demand Co-Creation"

An even deeper shift is reshaping business models. Huang Jian, co-founder of Lingdu Intelligence, shared: "Clients in the Middle East pointed out their severe water scarcity, so we re-engineered our products." His company’s automated window-cleaning robots consume just one-twentieth of the water required by traditional manual methods; today, Middle Eastern orders account for roughly 30% of the firm's total export sales.

Shi Yonghong, Vice President of the China Chamber of Commerce for Import and Export of Machinery and Electronic Products (CCCME), highlighted the overarching trend: electromechanical exhibits occupied over 80% of Phase 1 booths, where smart technology, eco-friendly design, and turnkey system solutions have become the new norm for Chinese exports. This edition featured 17 dedicated zones for emerging future industries, showcasing breakthroughs in commercial drones, advanced energy storage, brain-computer interfaces (BCIs), and next-generation displays. Over 12,000 enterprises exhibited in Phase 1, including more than 6,000 designated high-tech firms, "Little Giant" enterprises, and single-champion manufacturers—an 8.2% year-on-year increase.

Treasure Hunting for Chinese Innovation: Two Supreme Gold Award Winners

The innovation galleries were equally captivating: according to CCTV News, a quadruped robotic panda that walks, jumps, and waves "melted" foreign buyers' hearts; plush AI companions became interactive chat partners; and high-precision 3D printing systems won wide praise for their craftsmanship.

A plush robotic panda from DOBOT Robotics walks on all fours in the main gallery as an international visitor films the demonstration. (Source: CRI Online photo)

This year's Canton Fair Design Awards (CF Awards) recognized 222 products across 174 enterprises, with two Supreme Gold Awards stealing the spotlight: the Zhangxue Motorcycles 820RR—a 135-horsepower superbike accelerating from 0 to 100 km/h in 2.81 seconds, whose racing variant currently competes in the World Superbike Championship with five stage victories; and the Zhixun Smart Capsule Gastroscopy System, which requires patients merely to swallow a smart capsule. Guided by a mobile app for magnetic positioning, the device automatically completes a comprehensive stomach scan in 20 minutes without intubation or discomfort.

Side profile of the red Zhangxue Motorcycles 820RR featuring aggressive aerodynamic fairings. (Source: Autohome photo)

The 98-Year-Old "Perfect Attendance Veteran" and a Mobile Payment Code

Human stories best illustrate the expo's enduring appeal. Xue Rongxin, a 98-year-old Singaporean buyer who has attended every single Canton Fair from the 1st to the 140th edition without missing one, is affectionately known as the fair's "Perfect Attendance Grandpa." At this edition, he tested robotic dexterous hands and tried on the latest AI smart glasses: "The Canton Fair is my university—there is something new to learn every single time."

98-year-old Xue Rongxin receives the "70 Years of Canton Fair to the World" commemorative badge and certificate. (Source: New Youth Net photo)

By day, international buyers evaluate cutting-edge robotics across exhibition halls; by night, they explore city streets using mobile payments. WeChat Pay data reveals that in September 2026, mobile scan-to-pay transactions by foreign users in Guangdong surged over 90% year-on-year, demonstrating how trade show traffic directly translates into local consumer spending.

From oil-paper umbrellas and lacquerware to heavy-duty industrial robotics, the 70-year transformation of the Canton Fair shopping cart reflects the evolution of Chinese industry. When an exoskeleton helps a British mother walk again, when Middle Eastern buyers inspire water-efficient cleaning robots, and when a 98-year-old veteran marvels at new technologies, the relationship between China and the world has fundamentally evolved. They are no longer merely buyers and sellers, but co-creators defining the standard of global product excellence. This is the commercial essence of Chinamaxxing: it is not simply that the world needs Chinese products, but that global progress depends on the relentless iteration of Chinese innovation.

Chinamaxxing

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Europe is the undisputed birthplace of industrial robotics—Germany’s KUKA, Switzerland’s ABB, and Italy’s Comau once defined every benchmark in the sector. Yet at the 2026 World Robot Conference in Beijing this August, Juha Roening, Vice President of the European Robotics Association, delivered a statement that silenced the auditorium: Europe has fallen decades behind both the United States and China in robotics. At the same event, Jack Perry, Chairman of the UK’s 48 Group Club, released the European Robotics Procurement Demand report, making a direct appeal: "China needs to bring its robots to Europe—and keep them there."

This reversal of roles took less than a decade to unfold.

SIASUN: Defeating Eight International Giants in a 20-Month Bid

The story begins in Liverpool, England. As early as 2018, Chinese robotics pioneer SIASUN completed the first full-system CE certification for Chinese mobile robots at Jaguar Land Rover's Halewood plant—a nine-month technical effort certified by TÜV SÜD. In October 2024, following a grueling 20-month bidding war against eight leading international manufacturers, SIASUN secured a major contract to equip the French facility and UK gigafactory of a top global battery technology company. The delivery included over 100 mobile robots (AMRs), more than 300 sets of buffer rack systems, and over 400 automated docking stations.

Rows of yellow SIASUN mobile robots lined up and ready for deployment inside the factory workshop. (Source: China Daily photo)

What ultimately won over the European engineering teams were the hyper-precise technical details. SIASUN engineered an industry-first V-groove forklift mobile robot equipped with a proprietary visual material recognition system. Hou Pengguo, head of engineering for SIASUN’s Mobile Robot New Energy Division, explained: "The robot essentially grew its own set of 'eyes,' allowing it to locate materials autonomously with millimeter-level precision—the highest in the industry." Xavier Petit, a French process engineer involved in the deployment, remarked: "The SIASUN team consistently demonstrated flexibility, commitment, and transparency! We look forward to future collaborations."

The comprehensive fleet lineup of nine SIASUN mobile robot models. (Source: China Daily photo)

Wang Yupeng, President of SIASUN’s Mobile Robot Business Group, noted: "This marks not only a milestone for SIASUN in the overseas clean-energy market, but also a major leap forward for domestic Chinese robotics enterprises on the global stage."

Roborock: 45% European Market Share and Dual "Global No. 1" Certifications

While SIASUN showcases industrial-grade prowess, Roborock demonstrates consumer-grade dominance. In the first half of 2026, Roborock posted revenue of RMB 10.084 billion (up 27.6% year-on-year) and a net profit of RMB 986 million (up 45.6%). Both IDC and Euromonitor International officially certified Roborock as the world's leading robot vacuum brand. Europe remains its strongest stronghold, where its robot vacuums command a 45% market share and wet-dry vacuum sales surged 112% year-on-year. During Amazon Prime Day, Roborock topped sales charts across major European markets, including Germany, the UK, Spain, the Netherlands, and Belgium. At IFA 2026 in Berlin, Roborock unveiled its Saros Rover—featuring a novel wheeled-legged architecture—alongside automated pool cleaners and LiDAR-guided robotic lawn mowers, signaling an ambition that extends far beyond the living room.

Roborock showcases its full-scenario robotics ecosystem—from living rooms to outdoor pools—at IFA 2026.

The Roborock RockMow Z1 automated robotic lawn mower.

Unitree: European Firms Rebadge and Resell Chinese Humanoids

The most intriguing twist occurred at the Mobile World Congress (MWC) in Barcelona in March 2025. Spanish tech firm Invelon showcased a walking, hand-shaking humanoid robot bearing its own company logo—yet underneath, it was actually Unitree’s G1 humanoid robot. Marc Solé Farré, Invelon’s CTO, candidly revealed to Caixin that the company purchases the G1 from Unitree for €50,000 per unit and resells them to European corporate clients. Unitree remained unfazed; an employee told reporters: "Anyone in the industry recognizes it as a Unitree build immediately. Their exhibits simply help boost our global brand awareness."

Unitree's G1 humanoid robot executes a dance routine. (Source: Xinhua photo)

According to Caixin, Unitree has exported over 1,000 humanoid robots, with Western European countries like Germany and Italy serving as primary markets, catering mainly to universities and tech research labs. Where Chinese suppliers once produced components for Siemens and Mercedes-Benz, European companies now rebadge Chinese robotics for resale—inverting the industry's ecological hierarchy.

From Selling Hardware to Setting Standards

Macroeconomic data underscores this structural shift: according to China's General Administration of Customs, exports of Chinese industrial robots reached RMB 6.29 billion in the first half of 2026, up 18.6% year-on-year, while exports of intelligent bionic robots exceeded 10,000 units across 90 countries and regions. Yet Chinese firms recognize that conquering Europe requires navigating strict hurdles: the EU Artificial Intelligence Act (AI Act) has raised compliance standards, while European clients demand a 2-to-3-year ROI. The head of Keenon Robotics, a leader in commercial service robots, stated bluntly: "Overseas clients don't buy technical specs; they buy solutions to real-world problems." Consequently, adopting "Try-Before-You-Buy" (TBYB) procurement models—allowing European firms to test units for several months before committing—alongside establishing local European subsidiaries and GDPR compliance certifications, has become standard procedure for Chinese robotics players.

This represents perhaps the most profound chapter of "Chinamaxxing" to date: where Chinese engineers once traveled to Germany to master precision craftsmanship, figures like Xavier Petit now study millimeter-level positioning in Shenyang; European industry leaders publicly acknowledge lagging decades behind; and Spanish tech firms compete to act as European distributors for Chinese robotics. From the historic homeland of KUKA to the automotive assembly lines of Liverpool, "Intelligent Manufacturing in China" (Created in China) is no longer a marketing slogan—it is the operational backbone powering European industry day and night. This time around, China is no longer the student, but the master.