Mount Tai, located in China's Shandong province, rises to a dizzying 1.500 meters above sea level, with more than 7.000 steps to the top. This popular attraction, known for its spectacular views and historical significance, is a real challenge for even the most hardy hikers.
Videos circulating on Chinese social media, such as the popular app Douyin (China's version of TikTok), show exhausted visitors shivering, falling or trying to crawl down the hill literally on all fours.
In order to make the ascent easier, Shandong tourism officials came up with an innovative solution – robotic legs or exoskeletons.
Ten AI exoskeletons were unveiled on Mount Tai on the first day of the Chinese New Year, January 29, attracting more than 200 users during a trial week. With a price tag of 60 to 80 yuan (about 8-11 euros) per person, the technological advancement promises to bring a whole new dimension to mountaineering, Xinhua reported, citing CNN.
The exoskeletons were developed in collaboration between Taishan Cultural Tourism Group and Shenzhen-based technology company Kenqing Technology. They weigh just 1,8 kilograms and are attached to the user's waist and thighs. Thanks to artificial intelligence, the device tracks body movements and provides synchronized assistance to reduce the strain on the legs, Kenqing Technology explains.
The exoskeletons have two batteries that last for five hours – just a little less than the average time it takes to climb to the top, points out Wang Houzhe, deputy secretary of the Taishan Cultural Tourism Group Party Committee.
"It's like someone is pulling me up a hill!"
Among the first users was 68-year-old tourist Li Chengde from the provincial capital, Jinan. “It really works!” he told state news agency Xinhua. “It feels like someone is pulling me up a hill!”
Jacky, a content creator from Shandong who requested anonymity, tested the device for half an hour on hundreds of stairs. While he praises the ease of climbing, he admits that the feeling after taking the device off was a bit unusual. “I felt like a puppet with mechanical movements, and when I regained control of walking, it was kind of exhausting.”
He also noted that the device can be inconvenient when performing basic tasks, such as tying shoelaces or going to the toilet, because you need help to take it off and you can't do it yourself.
Taishan Cultural Tourism Group's Wang announced improvements to battery life and the introduction of replacement stations along the hiking trail. The exoskeletons are still in the trial phase, but their wider availability is expected as early as March.
Technology that helps the elderly and people with reduced mobility
Despite initial challenges, many are praising the invention as a real solution for the elderly, children and visitors with mobility difficulties. Half of those who tested the prototype on Mount Tai were retirees.
In addition to making hiking easier, this innovation has also opened a broader discussion about the use of exoskeletons in the context of China's aging population. China's National Bureau of Statistics reports that in 2023, 22% of the population was over 60, and this number is expected to increase to 2035% by 30, exceeding 400 million elderly people.
The company Kenqing Technology has already developed a special model of exoskeleton adapted to elderly users, weighing 2,4 kg, which is sold on the Chinese platform Taobao for a price of 17.000 yuan (2.334 EUR).
However, in order to fully exploit the potential of these robotic aids, experts warn that stronger government initiatives are needed to increase production and lower prices.
Will robotic legs become the future of hiking and the solution to the mobility problems of the elderly? China's Mount Tai is already showing that that future is closer than we think.
