Interactive tech thrills foreign media at science museum

Watch robots dance and duel, compete with robotic arms in table tennis and with an AI goalkeeper in soccer challenges, and even enjoy a latte topped with AI-generated art of your own face — this was the kind of futuristic fun foreign media members experienced during their visit to the Shenzhen Science & Technology Museum.

On Nov. 26, members of the foreign media delegation participating in the 2025 “A Date with China” program toured the museum, enjoying an immersive, hands-on journey through cutting-edge technologies.

Robots, interactive tech everywhere

Delegation members tried everything from robot competitions to brainwave-controlled installations. After putting on brainwave-collection headsets, many were amazed to see flowers bloom and racing cars accelerate purely through mental focus — a vivid demonstration of China’s progress in brain-computer interface technology.

They also watched robots dance and “fight,” challenged robotic arms to table tennis matches, tested their soccer shooting skills against an AI goalkeeper, and visited an intelligent coffee-making robot capable of creating latte art based on visitors’ uploaded portraits.

“This place is really amazing,” several guests remarked as they explored the museum’s highly interactive zones. Through first-hand encounters, they gained a more intuitive understanding of China’s latest achievements in robotics, artificial intelligence, and brain science integration.

‘One of the best museums I’ve ever been to’

Afghan content creator Mohammad Hashem Mohammadi said the visit exceeded his expectations:

“And it's one of the best museums I have ever been to. Like a futuristic museum. And here we saw a lot of robots. But the most important part was that the robots were dancing and they were also fighting.Afghan content creator Mohammad Hashem Mohammadi poses with a robot for a photo. Photos by Sun Yuchen

“And also we had the chance to play with the robots.

“So before, I knew that a lot of Chinese people love to play table tennis. After I tried to play table tennis with the robot, I saw that they are also making robots very precise to play table tennis. It was even better than humans. So yeah, I feel like this place is amazing. I strongly recommend everyone to come here in Shenzhen if they really want to see China’s high tech. This is definitely the place where they can start their knowledge and then go to other places. I feel very amazed by this place.”

'Extremely interactive and fascinating'

Northern Ireland influencer Eoin Vincent Ruddy, visiting China for the fourth time, was impressed by how much of the museum encourages direct participation:

“It is extremely interactive and fascinating for me to walk around here. I found that 80% of the things going on in the museum are actually interactive for its guests, and we've been taking part in a lot of the different things happening here.

Foreign visitors take photos of a coffee-making robot.

“I'm learning a lot as well. We just interacted with a coffee-making robotic arm that actually printed my face onto a coffee, which has probably been the highlight of my day so far.

“We've also been playing table tennis against robotic arms, competing against an AI goalkeeper in soccer challenges, and lots of other activities. So far, we are just absolutely fascinated and blown away by the museum.”

‘Ideal for families, kids and adults’

Mexican influencer Noelia Rodriguez Pascual, whose YouTube channel has more than 7.8 million followers, highlighted the museum’s scale and its universal appeal:

“My content is all about love for China. I travel with my husband all around the country. I've been living in Shenzhen for a year and a half already.

“The museum — the architecture — is just impressive. It’s so big, and the technology they have for the exhibitions and all the interactive experiences within the museum, it's incredible.

“It's ideal for families, for kids and for adults. I think we can all play and have fun there.”

Backgrounder: Shenzhen Science & Technology Museum

Located at the heart of Guangming Science City, the museum is themed “Digital Civilization · Innovation · Future” and highlights communication technology as its central narrative.

Through immersive digital experiences, the museum connects the public with enterprises and the forefront of scientific and technological development.

The museum has become a “phenomenal” landmark in China’s science popularization landscape. In just over five months, it has attracted over 2 million visitors since its opening on May 1.

Its 38-meter-high atrium and stainless-steel panel façade create a striking futuristic presence.

As the world’s first museum dedicated to digital civilization, the venue features 24 themed exhibition zones and 950 innovative exhibits, ranking among the nation’s best in both quantity and creativity. Notably, 80% of exhibits offer immersive, interactive experiences that blend science, technology, society, art, and culture — transforming traditional displays into engaging, multi-sensory journeys.

Many exhibits are closely aligned with Shenzhen’s signature “20+8” industrial clusters, combining innovation with local relevance. Additional facilities — including a planetarium, observatory, special-effects cinema, and study-tour spaces — further enrich the city’s science education ecosystem.

Foreign media visitors watch a robot during a dance-and-duel performance.

Since opening, the museum has held over 4,400 science education events, establishing a vibrant educational framework offering “daily experiences, weekly updates, and monthly themes.” Activities span a wide range of cutting-edge fields, from artificial intelligence and life sciences to aerospace and defense technology.

The museum is also a key player in advancing Shenzhen’s “science, education, and talent integration” reform pilot, serving as a hub for science education and a vital platform for cultivating future innovators.