American shocked by robotic legs in China that cost just $950: ‘In America you’ll be required…’

An American tourist’s video about trying robotic legs in China has gone viral on social media. Christian Grossi was walking through Zhangjiajie National Park when someone offered him a chance to test what they called a Sport Assist Robot. The device straps around the waist and thighs and uses AI to recognize when someone is walking and provide help with each step.

The robotic legs are designed to help tourists walk through the tough terrain of Chinese national parks. Grossi showed himself walking, running, and climbing stairs while wearing the device. He said in the TikTok video, users can control how much power they want, and at higher settings it almost doesn’t feel like you’re walking because the robot does most of the work. The device also has a different mode for going down stairs that protects your knees from impact.

The price shocked many people online. Renting the device costs $22 per day, while buying one for personal use costs $950. One viewer commented “In America, once you’ve overpaid for the robot legs, you’ll be required to download the app and pay an annual or monthly fee for usage access.” Another viewer claimed “$1000 in China but if the US makes it that’s gonna be $10,000+.” 

China’s growing market for tourist exoskeletons

These robotic legs first showed up at Mount Tai in Shandong Province during Chinese New Year in January 2025. The mountain has more than 7,000 steps to reach the top, which makes it very difficult for many visitors. The devices are made together by Taishan Cultural Tourism Group and Kenqing Technology, a company based in Shenzhen. They weigh just 1.8 kilograms and the batteries last about five hours.

During the trial period at Mount Tai, over 200 people used the robotic legs at a rental fee of $8 to $11 per use. About half of the users were senior citizens. The devices have now spread to other places including Enshi Grand Canyon in Hubei Province and Helan Mountain National Forest Park in Ningxia. At Mount Taishan, the robotic legs are now available to rent for $10.92 for three hours and lots of people want to use them.

The technology could help more than just tourists. Many viewers said the devices could help people with knee problems, Parkinson’s disease, or other mobility issues. China’s aging population is driving interest in assistive technologies. About 22% of China’s population was over 60 in 2024, and that number is expected to reach 30% by 2035. Kenqing Technology has made a different model just for elderly users that weighs 2.4 kilograms and costs around $2,334.

The global market for robotic exoskeletons was worth around $498 million in 2024 and is expected to grow a lot in coming years. China’s market has grown quickly from $3 million in 2016 to $250 million in 2020. Viral videos like Grossi’s have helped bring attention to new technologies coming from China.