China’s Humanoid Robots Run First Ever Half-Marathon—and Get Schooled by Humans

In a spectacle that blended sci-fi curiosity with athletic spectacle, China hosted the world’s first-ever Humanoid Robot Half-Marathon on April 19, 2025, in Beijing’s southeastern Yizhuang district. While the race marked a milestone in robotics development, it was also a vivid reminder that even the most cutting-edge androids still have a long way to go before keeping pace with humans.

12,000 Humans, 21 Robots, and One Historic Race

The event saw 12,000 human runners sharing the racecourse—albeit in separate lanes—with 21 humanoid robots. Organized with support from various Beijing municipal branches, the 13.1-mile race aimed to showcase China’s rapid progress in robotics and artificial intelligence, even as it tries to catch up with industry leaders in the U.S. and Europe.

Meet the Champion: Tiangong Ultra

The standout performer of the day was Tiangong Ultra, a 1.8-meter bipedal robot developed by UBTech in collaboration with the Beijing Humanoid Robot Innovation Center. Despite falling once and undergoing three battery swaps, Tiangong Ultra completed the race in 2 hours and 40 minutes—earning the distinction of being the only robot that met the minimum human qualification time of 3 hours and 10 minutes.

The robot was designed with long legs and an advanced algorithm to mimic human running gait. According to Tang Jian, CTO of the innovation center, “No other robotics firms in the West have matched Tiangong’s sporting achievements.”

Only 6 Robots Finished the Race

Despite the ambitious start, only 6 out of 21 robots managed to finish the race. Most dropped out due to overheating, falls, or mechanical failure—problems that were quickly patched with battery swaps, duct tape, and human intervention. Some robots even fell before crossing the starting line.

One robot named Xuanfeng Xiaozi, developed by Noetix Robotics, dramatically broke down multiple times. In its final stretch, it limped to the finish line with a cooling pad on its chest and duct tape holding its head in place. Remarkably, it was welcomed by its company’s runner-up robot that had finished 10 minutes earlier.

A Parade of Quirks and Creative Designs

Robot entries ranged from as short as 2’5″ to as tall as 5’9″, each sporting unique gear. Some wore kid-sized sneakers screwed onto their feet, others had knee pads, missing fingers, or even headless designs to reduce weight. One robot wore boxing gloves; another flaunted a red headband emblazoned with “Bound to Win” in Chinese.

Even more surreal were the robotic antics along the way: headless robots twirling into walls, backflips, and synchronized dances. One robot named Shennong spun into a wall shortly after the start, dragging down its handlers with it. Another, Huanhuan, moved at a snail’s pace, its head shaking as if it might fall off at any moment.

Human Handlers: The Unsung Athletes

Every robot had at least one—often two or three—human operators running alongside, managing navigation, cooling systems, and emergency repairs. Some handlers used leashes; others carried control panels or water bottles to spray motors mid-race. By the end, many operators looked more exhausted than their robotic companions.

A Showcase of Progress—and Limitations

While robots failed to impress as runners, the event offered an extraordinary demonstration of how far humanoid hardware has come. Alan Fern, professor of AI and robotics at Oregon State University, noted the shift from struggling with basic walking just five years ago to now completing half-marathons. “The impressive thing… is really a hardware robustness problem,” he said.

Yet Fern also pointed out the irrelevance of such feats in real-world applications. “Running a half-marathon doesn’t prove usefulness,” he said. “I expect China will shift toward developing robots that can actually do helpful things.”

Humanoid Hype vs. Practical Reality

China’s state media has been eager to showcase viral videos of humanoids performing athletic feats like backflips and martial arts. However, as this race demonstrated, robustness and real-world functionality still lag behind the hype. The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology has ambitious goals: by 2025, it hopes to scale up mass production and secure supply chains for core humanoid robot components.

For now, the robot marathon was a symbolic milestone—entertaining, inspiring, and even a bit comical. As Tiangong Ultra crossed the finish line to the applause of curious onlookers and selfie-snapping runners, it signaled both how far robots have come and how far they still have to go.