Beijing New Tech: Driverless Cars, Robots, EVs

At the appointed time this morning, your private guide and driver will meet you at your own-booked hotel in downtown Beijing, and then escort you for about 1.5 hours in our private car to Beijing Economic-Technological Development Area (BDA), also known as Yizhuang Hi-tech Zone or Beijing E-Town, the main front of high-tech industries in the capital and the future “All-Domain AI City”.

Once there, let’s start today’s high-tech adventure with a marvelous driverless robotaxi experience. Looking at the busy stream of driverless vehicles on the road, it’s hard to imagine that they’ve really become the norm in a certain corner of a city. At the designated stop, your guide will order a ride for you on the car-hailing app, and within minutes, a “wheeled mobile robot” with a radar on its “head” will pull up right in front of you. Sit in the back row, fasten your seat belt, then press the start button on the tablet to commence your pleasant smart travel. In the empty driver’s seat, technology acts as an invisible hand, precisely controlling the steering wheel. Whether it’s cornering, accelerating, or braking, you’ll be enveloped in a strong sense of safety.Afterward, follow your guide into the Robot Restaurant, the first tech-forward dining experience venue in Beijing. From the instant you enter, the futuristic vibe is within reach: an ultra-realistic female humanoid robot serving as an usher is greeting you. Inside, what will impress you is various robot chefs precisely preparing classic Chinese stir-fried dishes, as well as coffee, milk tea, hot dogs, ice cream, etc. If you’re interested, try them at your own expense. Besides, dive into the special experience zone to enjoy the performances of the robot band, try having a robot shoot your Grammy-style slow motion video to create a cinematic footage, and interact with the robot dinosaurs.
► Note: On Saturdays and Sundays, we’ll replace the Robot Restaurant with the Robot Mall, where you can see more robots already in use, such as those for surgeries, elderly care, and traditional Chinese medicine diagnosis. Also, watch robot football matches, have conversations with the Einstein bionic robot, and race cars using brainwaves.

Next, we’ll make our way to the Xiaomi EV Gigafactory, the first production base of Xiaomi, one of the significant players in China’s smart electric vehicle field. As you enter the exhibition hall, you’ll be instantly hit by a double blow of technology and aesthetics: a star vehicle is tilted at 45 degrees and “speeds” along the huge Mobius loop, seemingly to imply the concept that “technology has no end and innovation is always ongoing”. Then, take your chance to admire various limited-edition models, while listening to the staff explain their cutting-edge manufacturing techniques. Beyond that, let’s take the shuttle bus to the “Iron Man’s Dream Factory” to watch the fully automated production line - the operation scenes of the robotic arms and the 9,100-ton die-casting machine are extremely impressive. Industrial odors are present here; wearing a mask is recommended. The pure electric go-kart ride is also available here, and if you’re interested, inform your guide in advance to book it for you at your own expense.
► Important Notice: Access to the Xiaomi EV Factory is exceptionally popular and it's difficult to secure a ticket. While we strongly encourage booking your tour with us as early as possible so we can submit your application promptly, please note that access is granted through a random lottery rather than a queuing system. With a selection rate of around 4%, availability cannot be guaranteed. We appreciate your understanding!After that, let’s proceed to the Aerospace Castle, the first interactive aerospace model exhibition hall in Beijing, and witness the robust strength of China’s aerospace technology. Under the explanations of a professional, take your time to explore the 1:1 replica of the Tiangong space station, China’s own space laboratory, and the C919 aircraft and other domestic aviation equipment, as well as watching the entire deep space exploration film in the Mars Cinema and wearing VR device to immerse yourself in the takeoff and landing process of the J-20 warcraft. What’s even more exciting is to interactively press the launch button by your own hand during the countdown and watch the moment when the “rocket” soars into the sky.

At the end of the day, your guide and driver will escort you back to your hotel downtown. Hope you had a pleasant journey with us!