As service robots become increasingly common in Chinese facilities, local authorities are now designing “robot-friendly” urban spaces. The city of Shenzhen in south China’s Guangdong Province has unveiled a framework plan proposing the construction of the country’s first robot-friendly pilot zone, according to the government’s official WeChat account on December 13. This move aims to reinforce China’s position as a global leader in embodied artificial intelligence and humanoid robotics.
Article contents:
- Introduction
- “1+1+N” training ground framework
- The concept of embodied intelligence
- Industry statistics and growth
- Government support and policies
- Guangdong province leadership
- Future impact
- Frequently asked questions
Introduction
This ambitious initiative was announced during the 2025 Greater Bay Area (Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao) Artificial Intelligence and Robotics Industry Conference, recently held in Guangzhou. This project marks a major shift from simply manufacturing robots inside factories to integrating them into the urban fabric of cities, where robots will become part of daily life in streets and residential neighborhoods. Shenzhen, known as a hub for technology and innovation, is the ideal location to host such a pioneering experiment.
“1+1+N” Training Ground Framework
During the conference, local authorities officially launched the Guangdong Embodied Intelligence Training Ground “1+1+N” framework. This framework outlines coordinated measures for building province-wide training grounds for smart embodied robots. The training ground, located in Shenzhen’s embodied intelligence display area, will focus on open-air training for robots on streets and within neighborhood blocks after they pass closed training. The goal is to unlock the value of real-world scenarios, allowing robots to learn and adapt to unstructured and constantly changing environments.
The “N” in the framework refers to the establishment of multiple training facilities and specialized platforms across various cities and professional fields, connecting municipal resources, supporting industry needs, and complementing the main training ground through resource sharing and joint innovation. The training ground is considered crucial infrastructure to promote the development of the humanoid robot industry and accelerate the implementation of application scenarios, facilitating business collaboration and providing customized training environments for sectors such as smart manufacturing and public services.
The Concept of Embodied Intelligence
Embodied intelligence, especially humanoid robots, is widely seen as the next-generation “super application,” comparable to smartphones and new energy vehicles. The idea is that artificial intelligence should not remain merely as algorithms in cloud servers, but must possess a “body” to interact with the physical world. Public data showed that in the first 10 months of 2025, transaction orders involved 5,700 humanoid robots in China, with installations projected to approach 10,000 units by the end of the year.
Government Support and Policies
Guangdong Province offers a largely complete and independent industrial ecosystem, strong manufacturing capabilities, and market deployment power. In recent years, the province has rolled out a series of targeted policy measures to accelerate the development of the robotics industry. In March of this year, Guangdong issued a policy document featuring 12 support measures, covering core technology breakthroughs, opening application scenarios, and establishing manufacturing innovation centers and industrial funds. Under this policy, national manufacturing innovation centers in artificial intelligence and robotics can receive financial support of up to 50 million yuan (approximately $7.08 million).
Guangdong Province Leadership
Statistics highlight Guangdong’s leading position in China’s robotics and artificial intelligence industries. In 2024, Guangdong’s core artificial intelligence industry reached approximately 220 billion yuan, and surpassed 230 billion yuan in the first 10 months of 2025. The province’s industrial robot production accounts for over 40% of the national total, ranking first nationwide for five consecutive years, while service robot production accounts for 80% of the national share. Capital flows are also accelerating, with leading companies like Shenzhen-based UBTECH securing massive commercial contracts, setting a new global record for the largest single contract in the humanoid robotics sector.
Future Impact
Pan Helen, a member of the expert committee at the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, stated that China is leveraging its massive domestic market to overcome technological bottlenecks, strengthen self-reliant supply chains, and accelerate deployment across diverse application scenarios. Thanks to technological progress and policy support, China’s humanoid robotics industry has entered a phase of rapid growth. According to an industry report, China’s embodied intelligence market is expected to reach 5.295 billion yuan in 2025, accounting for 27% of the global total, while the humanoid robotics market is projected to reach over 8 billion yuan, representing nearly 50% of the global market.
Frequently Asked Questions
Question: What does a “robot-friendly” zone mean?
Answer: It is an urban area designed to accommodate robot operations in streets and public places, where they are trained for safe and efficient interaction with humans and the surrounding environment.
Question: What is the difference between industrial robots and humanoid robots?
Answer: Industrial robots are designed for specific tasks in factories, whereas humanoid robots resemble humans in shape and movement and aim to perform various tasks in human environments.
Question: Why is China focusing on “embodied intelligence”?
Answer: China views embodied intelligence as the next revolution following smartphones, combining artificial intelligence with physical working capability, which opens up massive new markets.
