China’s historic Mount Tai has hosted an unusual technology competition, bringing humanoid and four-legged robots to its rugged slopes in a challenge designed to test their speed, stability and ability to carry fragile goods.
Located in eastern Shandong province, Mount Tai has been a significant pilgrimage destination for centuries. It holds an important place in Chinese mythology and was historically visited by Chinese emperors.
However, its steep and uneven terrain proved challenging for several robotic participants. One humanoid robot wearing a bandana collapsed on the cobbled pathway and required repairs by engineers, while another lost its balance on a staircase and fell beside a rubbish bin.
The UNESCO World Heritage site served as the venue for the inaugural World Mountain Robot Challenge, which brought together around 90 teams of robots and engineers.
Participants were assigned a 3.9-kilometre route involving an elevation gain of more than 600 metres. They competed either to complete the course in the shortest possible time or transport delicate items, including fresh eggs and watermelons, safely to the summit.
A four-legged robot developed by Beijing Lingyi Technology, a subsidiary of robotics company Unitree, won the quadruped speed category after completing the course in 43 minutes and 41 seconds.
By comparison, most human visitors require at least two hours to complete the same route.
Meanwhile, the fastest humanoid robot, developed by Beijing-based team Zhishen Lingyue, finished a shorter competition course in 27 minutes and 26 seconds.
Organisers described Mount Tai’s challenging landscape as a natural extreme testing environment that could help improve robotic performance and prepare machines for practical, real-world applications.
The competition was organised by state-run China Media Group and offered cash prizes across several categories, including the fastest robots and the best-performing four-legged machines in load-carrying challenges.
