The city of Shenzhen in south China's Guangdong Province is fast becoming the world's most dynamic hub for humanoid robotics. Home to over 74,000 robotics firms and more than 140,000 AI professionals, Shenzhen is not only powering the city's robotics boom through its thriving innovation ecosystem but also transforming the way robots are developed from sensor-packed feet to ultra-sensitive skin. One of the front-runners is UBtech, a leading robotics innovator headquartered in the city. Back in 2022, its humanoid robots were only capable of walking, writing calligraphy, and practicing tai chi. Today, they are deployed in dozens of smart factories, including those run by Geely, BYD, and Foxconn, handling repetitive tasks once done by humans. This year, UBtech plans to roll out 1,000 humanoid robots across factory floors. This rapid development cycle, known locally as "Shenzhen Speed," is driven by deep research and development capacity and an unparalleled supply chain. In Nanshan District alone, dubbed Shenzhen's "Robot Valley," over 30 robotics companies operate along a 10-kilometer stretch of Liuxian Avenue. Hardware innovation plays an equally critical role. At Sycsense Technology, robots are being equipped with precision sensors and LiDAR systems that enable them to handle fragile tasks, like picking strawberries without damage. The speed mentioned by Xiong is underpinned by Shenzhen's dense and mature electronics ecosystem. RoboSense, a major supplier of LiDAR technology, is located just 20 minutes away from hundreds of robotics firms it serves. The city's concentrated supply chains and R and D power have led to a surge in innovation. In 2024 alone, robotics patent filings and grants rose more than 35 percent from the previous year. The sector reached 201.2 billion yuan (about 28 billion U.S. dollars), up 12.6 percent year on year. Shenzhen's robotics rise is the result of over a decade of investment from government funding to talent cultivation, all of which aimed at building a globally competitive, full-stack innovation ecosystem. Today, Shenzhen produces one-third of the world's LiDAR systems. And thanks to the seamless pipeline from lab to factory, the city is sending the country's humanoid robots onto the global stage at a pace no one can match. Shotlist: Shenzhen City, Guangdong Province, south China - Recent: 1. Various of humanoid robot walking, flipping, doing housework, refueling car; 2. Various of humanoid robots working along production lines at factory; 3. Humanoid robot walking; 4. Humanoid robot on show; 5. Humanoid robot dancing; 6. Aerial shot of industrial park; 7. Unmanned tractor moving; 8. Various of humanoid robots working at unmanned workshop; 9. SOUNDBITE (Chinese) Michael Tam, chief brand officer of UBtech (ending with shot 10): "Over the past 15 months, our industrial humanoid robots have progressed through three generations, with each iteration faster than the previous."; 10. Various of humanoid robots working at unmanned warehouse; 11. Various of humanoid robots walking; 12. Various of researchers working; 13. SOUNDBITE (Chinese dubbed in English) Michael Tam, chief brand officer of UBtech: "We can quickly find efficient solutions across the entire supply chain, all within one hour."; 14. SOUNDBITE (Chinese dubbed in English) Xiong Gengchao, chief executive officer of Sycsense: "Here, you can finalize a design by morning and get a sample by evening. This is 'Shenzhen Speed'."; 15. Various of researcher, reporter entering lab; 16. SOUNDBITE (Chinese dubbed in English) Xie Tiandi, marketing director of RoboSense (ending with shot 17): "Shenzhen's electronics ecosystem delivers twin advantages: suppliers next door slash production time by 50 percent, while daily collaboration with nearby innovators accelerates our R and D."; 17. Xie's body language; 18. Map showing Shenzhen's robot valley. [Restriction - No access Chinese mainland]