The qualifying round of the inaugural CMG World Robot Taishan Mountain (Taishan) Competition kicked off on Oct 26, bringing a group of steel climbers to Taishan Mountain in Tai'an, Shandong province, for a striking encounter between ancient heritage and cutting-edge technology.

Taishan Mountain has long symbolized the spirit of "climbing high and looking afar". For centuries, countless climbers have ascended its stone steps, challenging themselves and seeking distant horizons.

Robots from across the country have taken up the torch, navigating uneven stairs, steep slopes, and complex terrain. Unlike controlled laboratory environments, Taishan Mountain's natural challenges test robots' environmental perception, balance control, obstacle avoidance, and endurance. This unpredictable course pushes research teams to refine algorithms and optimize hardware, accelerating the transition of embodied intelligence from lab to real-world applications like field inspection and emergency rescue.

This event is not technology intruding on tradition; it is the mountain embracing innovation. With cliff inscriptions and ancient forests as a backdrop, ancient civilization and future tech appear in the same frame, offering a powerful visual impact and intellectual inspiration.

Taishan Mountain's rich cultural heritage adds human warmth to cold technology, while agile robots help the ancient mountain shed traditional tourism labels and showcase modern vitality to the world.

The event's greater value lies in using the competition to energize the city. With local Tai'an teams participating, the event aims to turn traffic into industrial opportunities — attracting robotics talent, projects, and resources to build a stronger tech ecosystem and inject new momentum into local development. The mountain is no longer just a tourism resource, but a rising symbol of the city's technological transformation.

A robot navigates the ancient stone steps of Taishan Mountain for a climbing competition. [Photo/Tai'an Daily]