Imagine learning football skills without going to the field, or getting an alert from your car about a danger not in sight – such eye-opening, cutting-edge technologies were brought to the fifth China International Import Expo (CIIE) in Shanghai. 

Artificial intelligence and information technology sectors have always been the highlight of the annual event. Over 320 exhibitors from these areas bedazzled the visitors this year.

At a VR game demonstration, visitors could walk and run in the virtual world with a special equipment.  

"Our demonstration here is a VR game, but the equipment is actually widely used for training in various sectors, including military, police, firefighting, power sector and coal mining," Carol Zhang, senior project manager with KAT VR, told CGTN.

At another experience area, the infinite possibilities of future travel were demonstrated by vehicles that integrated many intelligent technologies, such as autonomous driving, image sensors, camera modules and intelligent connection.  

In these vehicles, passengers can see various parameters, receive emergency alerts and even hold a video conference on the screen in front of them.

At a booth showing a metaverse sports event, there was a camera in the corner through which the data generated by the athletes during exercise was captured in real-time, forming a 3D human body model. 

"The combination of sports and technology, I think, is a necessary achievement when technology develops to a certain level. It directly facilitates athletes' training. (The metaverse basketball experience) can help us find the best moves and let the athletes constantly adapt to them while also avoiding injuries," Xu Jicheng, member of the Party Committee of the Chinese Basketball Association, told CGTN. 

The world's first multitasking high-tech robot service station also debuted at the fifth CIIE, providing guidance, security inspection, item recycling and other services.

Controlled by a smart system designed with 680 patents – over 70 percent of which are for inventions, the 46 robots were dispatched in real time to perform numerous tasks in different scenarios, shuttling between the robot dock and exhibition areas.

(Cover: A Tesla bot is displayed at the fifth China International Import Expo in Shanghai, east China. /CFP)