Robots equipped with advanced functions and artificial intelligence (AI) are taking center stage at the 139th China Import and Export Fair, or Canton Fair, in south China's Guangzhou, highlighting China’s drive in high-tech manufacturing and attracting buyers from around the world.

Running through May, the fair covers 1.55 million square meters and features 75,700 booths and more than 32,000 enterprises, including around 3,900 first-time exhibitors.

This is also the second time the Canton Fair has set up a dedicated zone for service robots.

One of the standout exhibits is a high-rise facade cleaning robot that operates without ropes or scaffolding and cleans more than three times faster than human workers.

"Chinese technologies are very good. I'm coming to Canton Fair for the third time," said Ali, an overseas buyer.

The strong performance of these cleaning robots has made them very popular among buyers, bringing a flood of orders to their manufacturers.

"We have received high-intent inquiries for home-use machines, with a potential order volume of 30,000 units. Just yesterday, we received high-intent inquiries from buyers in six countries where our business hasn't yet reached," said Huang Jian, co-founder and vice president of Lingdu Intel-tech Development Co., Ltd.

A robotic arm shaped like a "lobster claw" has also drawn particular attention at the expo. Dubbed the "lobster arm" by visitors, it features an open-source AI agent called OpenClaw.

By integrating mainstream programming languages and open-source algorithm models, the arm can flexibly switch between tasks such as assembly, inspection and sorting.

"The self-developed robotic arm is mounted on a robotic dog, enabling it to not only patrol but also perform maintenance and inspection tasks. This truly allows AI to empower the entire production process," said Wang Xu, vice president of Guangzhou Shiyuan Electronic Technology Company Limited.

Other eye-catching robots on display include those that can greet guests, transport goods, perform cleaning tasks, dance, or even play badminton.

Established in 1957, the Canton Fair is held twice a year in Guangzhou. It is the longest-running of several comprehensive international trade events in China, and has been hailed as the barometer of China's foreign trade.