In China, Tourists Can Take a Hike — Or Let a Robot Do the Work
The device locks around the waist and thighs, moving in sync with each step. As the wearer climbs, it responds, adding a mechanical push to lighten the strain. Once designed for medical rehabilitation and heavy lifting, such robotic leg supports are now showing up across China on popular mountain trails and steep scenic sites.
During the Spring Festival holiday, these AI-powered exoskeletons first gained attention at Mount Tai, one of China’s most famous peaks, in the eastern Shandong province, where visitors must climb over 7,000 steps to reach the summit.
Now, Enshi Grand Canyon, a vast landscape of cliffs and staircases in central China’s Hubei province, is the latest site to test them. Spanning 108 kilometers and featuring more than 26,000 steps, the canyon is among the most physically demanding scenic spots in the country, offering visitors a glimpse of how technology could ease even the most grueling climbs.
“Visitors often find these mountainous scenic spots especially hard on the legs,” a member of staff from the Hubei site’s operating company told domestic media. “Based on feedback, particularly from elderly tourists, we decided to introduce this product.”
With China’s rapidly aging population facing increasing physical limitations, demand for assistive technology is rising. According to the Smart Health & Care Industry Alliance, China’s smart health and elderly care sector was estimated to be worth 6 trillion yuan ($820 billion) by 2023, driven by growing interest in AI-powered support for daily movement and rehabilitation.
The exoskeletons for tourists began trial runs last week. According to the company operating them at Enshi Canyon, the device weighs 1.8 kilograms, runs for three to five hours on a single charge, and provides up to 15 newton-meters of assistance — roughly the force needed to push a bicycle pedal — over 14 kilometers.
Worn with a harness around the waist, thighs, and knees, the AI-powered device detects the wearer’s walking rhythm and force, adjusting in real time to provide step-by-step support.
Some trial users told the media, “It feels like my feet are floating,” and “I hardly need to exert any effort, and it’s very gentle on my knees.”
The exoskeletons are still in the testing phase, and details on deployment and pricing have yet to be finalized. According to staff at the Enshi Canyon, once fully operational, rentals are likely to cost between 30 and 40 yuan per hour ($4–5.5). Officials are also considering a 9.9 yuan “trial experience” for visitors tackling particularly steep slopes.
The devices are developed by Kenqing Technology, a company based in the southern tech hub of Shenzhen specializing in exoskeletons for both consumer and industrial use. Founded in 2015, the firm first gained widespread attention during the Spring Festival when its mountain-climbing robots, launched in partnership with Mount Tai went viral.
The 1,500-meter peak, one of China’s most renowned cultural and historical landmarks, draws millions of visitors each year.
The introduction of exoskeletons at Mount Tai has sparked significant public interest, generating over 1 million views on microblogging platform Weibo. Many social media users praised the robots for easing the strain of long hikes and have called for their wider adoption at other tourist sites.
Kenqing CEO Yu Yunbo said demand has already outpaced supply, with multiple tourist attractions seeking partnerships. “Currently, the product is completely sold out,” he told domestic media.
Wang Houzhe, executive director of the Mount Taishan Cultural Tourism Group, the entity running the Mount Tai scenic area and part of the exoskeleton development, told domestic media that once available, the exoskeletons will be offered for both rental and purchase through the Mount Tai Tourism Visitor Service Platform, with prices expected to stay below 10,000 yuan for the latter.
Beyond mountain climbing, exoskeleton technology is expanding into other areas. A walking-assist exoskeleton, designed to support mobility, is already available on e-commerce platform Taobao for 16,997 yuan. The 2.4-kilogram device offers 12 Newton-meters of assistance and a 1.5-hour battery life.
Kenqing Technology has also developed waist-assist robots, designed for heavy lifting in industrial settings.
China’s exoskeleton market has grown rapidly, surging from 3 million yuan in 2016 to 250 million yuan in 2020. A report by Zhongyan Puhua Industry Research Institute estimates the market will reach 4.2 billion yuan by 2025, as demand rises across tourism, healthcare, and industrial sectors.
Editor: Apurva.
(Header image: Screenshots show tourists using the exoskeleton at the Enshi Grand Canyon Scenic Area in Hubei province, February 2025. From Weibo)
