Tourists from Jamaica engage in an interactive game at a robot 6S store, claimed to be the world's first of its kind, in Longgang district, Shenzhen, Guangdong province, on Tuesday. LIANG XU/XINHUA
The buzz of tiny motors and mechanical clicks draws cheers as a robot mixes and pours a drink for a visitor at a high-tech showroom. Artificial intelligence-powered eyeglasses take another visitor into the future. Electronic soccer keeps a few others glued to a different pitch.
Move over conventional sightseeing. Innovation tourism is the new crowd magnet in Shenzhen, Guangdong province. Across China's leading tech hub, visitors are gladly paying for an immersive experience of cutting-edge engineering and applications — from humanoids and quadrupeds to self-driving vehicles and delivery drones.
The four-story robot 6S store in Shenzhen's Longgang district is among the key attractions. The store, which claims to be the world's first of its kind, opened in July last year. A basic tour costs 49 yuan ($7.26) while a full-access pass can be bought for 568 yuan. On display are humanoids and service robots designed for use at homes, restaurants, healthcare facilities and elderly care centers. The future is not a distant reality at the store, but something that visitors can see, touch and interact with. They can guide robotic dogs through obstacle courses, take part in robotic boxing, and watch machines cook and serve food.
