BEIJING, May 7 (Xinhua) -- Over the recent May Day holiday -- one of China's busiest travel periods each year -- artificial intelligence (AI), robots and digital technologies accelerated their integration into the country's tourism sector.
The Yungang Grottoes, a UNESCO World Heritage site featuring over 50,000 Buddhist stone sculptures in north China's Shanxi Province, hosted robot performances twice a day at its open square on the first two days of the holiday.
The 20-minute performance drew inspiration from the iconic statues of the Yungang Grottoes, and all movements were derived from the paired Buddhist guardian figures in Cave No. 9.
Tian Qing, chief director of the performance, said, "We aim to tell Chinese stories through the integration of technology and art. Having robots interpret traditions is a tribute to the heritage while embracing the future."
According to the project team, the performance marks a successful trial of integrated technology, cultural and tourism development. In the future, regular robot performances will be introduced to more cultural heritage sites, continuously advancing the revitalization of cultural heritage and public education.
Beyond performances, museums and archaeological sites across multiple regions have introduced intelligent robots, serving as "cultural relic guardians" and commentators.
In the capital city of Henan Province, the Zhengzhou Institute of Cultural Relics and Archaeology hosted a public open day during the holiday. There, Unitree robots dressed in red costumes answered questions related to archaeology from the visitors.
In northeast China, the Changchun Museum of History and Culture introduced humanoid robots ahead of the holiday. Full-process tests were conducted on the robots' core functions, including motion control, tour guidance and explanation, navigation and voice interaction, enabling the robots to serve the public during the holiday.
Besides cultural experience services, robots have also shouldered important responsibilities in safety management, becoming an indispensable smart force in cultural and tourism governance.
Along the waterfront trail of the Orange Isle in Changsha, capital of central China's Hunan Province, a sleek grey-and-black intelligent patrol robot was spotted cruising at a constant speed along the shore, issuing safety alerts to visitors to stay clear of the water's edge.
"In the past, river patrols relied entirely on manual work, which offered limited visibility and incomplete coverage," a security officer of the Orange Isle said. "The intelligent robots have equipped us with far-reaching vision and acute perception."
Currently, two intelligent patrol robots have been deployed in the core area. By day, they assist staff with crowd guidance, safety patrols and disseminating information about the scenic area. After visitors leave at night, the robots take over round-the-clock security patrol.
According to the Action Plan for the Innovative Development of Smart Tourism issued in 2024, by 2027, the scale of the smart tourism economy will be further expanded, smart tourism infrastructure will become more sophisticated, the supply of high-quality smart tourism products will be more abundant, and smart tourism services and experiences will be more convenient and comfortable.
Driven by the policy push, another category of cutting-edge smart equipment is also emerging to meet tourists' core travel needs.
A tourist from Shanghai recently visited Mount Tai, a famed scenic area in east China's Shandong Province. Upon arriving at the tourist center, she rented a pair of exoskeleton robots to begin her hike.
"After putting on the device, it assists leg movement when climbing steps, allowing people to ascend with less strain on the legs," she said, adding that the rental costs 80 yuan (about 11.731 U.S. dollars) for three hours, which is affordable.
Wang Houzhe, deputy Party chief of the Taishan Cultural Tourism Group (TCTG), explained that when tourists wearing the exoskeleton robot take steps, sensors on the device detect their movement direction and instantly provide appropriate assistance through AI algorithms.
Weighing merely 1.8 kilograms, the device can reduce tourists' mountain climbing time from five hours to three and provide assistance of up to 50 percent, he said.
The 15th Five-Year Plan of Shandong Province calls for accelerating the large-scale application and demonstration of new technologies, new products and new scenarios, and promoting the popularization and application of robots and intelligent equipment.
During the May Day holiday, TCTG scaled up the deployment of exoskeleton robots, putting a total of 500 units into service.
It has become an inevitable trend for digital cultural tourism to evolve from an optional choice to a necessity, said Luo Zibai, an expert with China Tourism Academy.
Digital cultural tourism is reshaping tourists' May Day travel experiences in a more visible, warm and replicable manner, he added.
The new wave of robots and technologies at scenic spots also shows that technology-enabled cultural tourism does not replace human warmth but instead delivers more precise and responsive services. ■
