00:01It's one of the wonders of the world that draws millions of visitors every year.
00:06But climbing up China's Great Wall and its steep ascents can be a strenuous workout.
00:11Unless you can get a leg up with this.
00:17You use a QR code and once you start using it, you make payment.
00:21Once it's activated, it starts working.
00:26Once seen as science fiction, exoskeletons are rapidly moving into everyday life in China.
00:32Here at the Great Wall, they've been available to hikers for rent since last year.
00:37Anybody wanting to experience this mobility assisting tech can have a go for as little as around $13 for three
00:44hours.
00:46Men and women, young and old, as long as you want assistance, you can wear it.
00:52There is no age limit.
00:55Fenghua is from Hunan province and is visiting the wall for the first time.
00:59It's also his first time trying out these robot legs.
01:09The feeling is like you're climbing.
01:12When this leg is up and you step forward, you feel a pulling force that straightens your leg.
01:17It keeps repeating like that.
01:19I think it's pretty useful and saves some effort.
01:27Chinese companies have made strides in the development of exoskeleton technology.
01:31In the past, it was mainly confined to labs and for military purposes.
01:35But high-performance alloys have made them lightweight and much more suitable for everyday users.
01:43Some weigh less than two kilograms.
01:46Government support has meanwhile helped drive down the cost of buying these legs to just a few hundred dollars,
01:52compared to tens of thousands a few years ago.
01:55China's new manufacturing drive has been crucial as well.
01:59I think wearable battery technology makes this possible.
02:06The principle itself is simple, and now technology allows it to be applied to activities like climbing the Great Wall
02:12or hiking.
02:13These kinds of sports.
02:19Tech intelligence experts ABI research forecast worldwide revenue for exoskeletons to hit over 2 billion dollars by 2030.
02:28That's up from about 850 million last year.
02:31China's aging population is expected to be a key driver.
02:35More than a fifth of the population is now over 60 years old.
02:40Many companies are targeting the so-called silver economy for growth.
02:46In the future, many aspects of our lives may depend on robots, and they will affect how we live.
02:52I really hope the robotics industry develops worldwide, not just in China, but also in the US and Europe,
02:59to improve people's lives. We are looking forward to that.
03:03Chinese companies are racing to turn futuristic technology into everyday devices,
03:09changing the role of personal tech in the country step by step.
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