The Second Shanghai Vocational Skills Competition kicked off in March at the National Exhibition and Convention Center (NECC). The event focused on advancing Shanghai’s “3+6” strategic industry system (3 leading industries–integrated circuits, biomedicine, and artificial intelligence and 6 priority industries–electronic information, life and health, automotive, high-end equipment, advanced materials, and fashion consumer goods) and embracing emerging sectors of the digital economy. Modeled after WorldSkills and other national-level competitions, a total of 101 competition categories were held, drawing nearly a thousand contestants to showcase their expertise. With skill demonstrations and interactive experiences, the competition transformed into a hands-on, high-tech skills carnival that is “visible, tangible, and participatory.”

“Nong hao, nong hao…” (that’s “hello” in the Shanghai dialect). Have you ever seen a robot dog bowing to wish you a Happy New Year? Well, here they are—live and in action! Guided by the thud of mechanical paws, the little pups trotted toward us, occasionally tumbling playfully to grab everyone’s attention.

Equipped with 3D LiDAR and depth cameras, the humanoid robot has a human-like appearance and motion, allowing it to mimic human behavior precisely. Its multi-degree-of-freedom joints ensure smooth movement and adaptability to complex environments. It also incorporates speech recognition, facial recognition, and natural language processing technologies, facilitating voice communication and emotional engagement.

The robot dog prototype, known as Xdog, was developed by Wang Xingxing—now CEO of Unitree Robotics—during his postgraduate studies. It comprises a control system, communication module, power unit, and battery pack, offering key advantages like intuitive human-machine interaction, agile movement, and robust adaptability across varied environments.

A ping-pong-playing robot? You bet—and it’s pretty good! Feel like a match? On display is a table tennis robot jointly developed by Shanghai Jiao Tong University and JAKA Robotics. The project showcases Minhang District’s integrated approach to innovation, blending industry, academia, research, and application to convert scientific achievements into real-world technologies.

The robot has also competed in the China Robot Competition and RoboCup China Open. By leveraging machine learning, motion planning, dynamic control, AI decision-making, and human-computer interaction, the robot tackles the core challenges of perception, decision-making, and execution. It builds a comprehensive robotic system equipped with intelligent vision, agile decision-making, and high-precision performance.

Meanwhile, the sound of gameplay filled another corner of the venue as participants immersed themselves in a VR retelling of the ancient legend Hou Yi Shoots Down the Suns, from the Chinese myth Chang’e Flies to the Moon. Players took on the role of the brave archer Hou Yi, using virtual arrows to shoot down scorching suns and restore harmony to the earth. The virtual desert landscape—dunes and all—pays tribute to traditional shadow puppetry, allowing players to step into a digital homage to Chinese intangible cultural heritage.

This competition is a concrete measure to implement the decisions and deployments of the Municipal Party Committee and Municipal Government, aiming to enhance the quality and effectiveness of vocational skills training and build a high-quality skilled talent workforce. The competition will serve as a selection event for participants in the 3rd National Vocational Skills Competition, scheduled to be held this September in Zhengzhou, Henan Province.

These events will contribute to building experience and laying a solid foundation for the 48th WorldSkills Competition, which Shanghai will host next year.