Foreign tourists check out AI sports photography glasses at a mall in Shenzhen, Guangdong province, on Aug 3. LIANG XU/XINHUA
A meal order delivered by drone, dinner at a robot-themed restaurant and a ride in a driverless car formed part of the itinerary for US travel influencers Kara and Nate during a journey from Shanghai to Beijing.
Their 33-minute YouTube video titled "China is Living in 2050" also featured robotic dogs and a shopping center filled with high-tech consumer products. It had racked up about 1.3 million views as of Aug 5, bringing experiences once associated with science fiction to the couple's 4.5 million subscribers.
The video is part of a growing trend on social media, turning China's everyday technology into a major tourist attraction. Robotaxis, drone deliveries, humanoid robots and smart retail are now appearing alongside historical landmarks and natural scenic spots on foreign visitors' itineraries.
Travel operators say technology-focused trips, once aimed largely at overseas professionals and corporate delegations, are increasingly attracting more independent travelers, families and students. The shift is helping technology emerge as a calling card for Chinese tourism, built less around a single museum or theme park and more around experiencing how digital services and automation integrated into daily life.
