Shenzhen, Jan. 14 – China’s robot rental market is witnessing a peak, with orders queued till the Spring Festival and performance-capable robots in high demand, as per latest industry data.

The newly launched national open robot rental platform "Qingtianzu" has received over 1,000 orders within a week, with deliveries scheduled before Spring Festival. “Holiday promotions and corporate annual meetings drive surging demand,” said Li Yiyan, CEO of Qingtianzu. Beijing-based Menghuo Robot Rental noted orders for New Year’s Eve events, with one client renting 4 robots.

Performative robots – capable of singing, dancing, and calligraphy – are most popular. They shine at annual meetings (writing auspicious phrases like "Success at Once") and mall promotions (performing festive dances). Brands like Unitree Technology and DeepRobotics dominate, with DeepRobotics’ Lingxi X2 gaining fame after TV show appearances.

Prices have plummeted over 50% from early 2025: daily rates fell from around 10,000 yuan to 5,000-6,000 yuan, even lower for basic models. Mass production by manufacturers (e.g., DeepRobotics’ 5,000-unit rollout) and more rental firms (now hundreds nationwide) fuel the drop. Qingtianzu, covering 50 cities with 2,000+ robots, offers flexible services, even allowing individual owners to sublet.

Rental firms see viable profits. A Menghuo representative said a 209,000-yuan Unitree robot can recoup costs in a year, thanks to steady orders beyond peak seasons.