According to a report from August 23, a five-year-old girl in Xiangyang, Hubei, was struck in the face by a performing robot during a kindergarten visit to the Xiangyang Science and Technology Museum on November 12, 2025. The incident left the child bleeding heavily after the robot suddenly lifted its leg and kicked her.
Medical examinations revealed that the girl sustained a wound on her upper lip requiring stitches, had one front tooth knocked out, and another loosened to the point of falling out. Due to damage to her gum tissue, two additional baby teeth subsequently fell out during the course of treatment. A staff member at the museum stated that the robot operator failed to properly judge the safe distance, which led to the accident.
The girl's mother, Ms. Wang, described the ordeal her daughter has endured over the past several months. "For more than half a year, my child has been surviving mainly on liquid food, and her gums frequently become inflamed, causing high fevers. She has suffered a great deal. On top of that, the scarring on her face has dealt a significant blow to her mental well-being," she said.
Ms. Wang recounted that on the day of the incident, the kindergarten had organized a trip to the museum with the theme of watching robot performances. After reviewing surveillance footage multiple times, she observed that at approximately 10:15 a.m., the children were standing around the robot when the operator moved it closer. The machine then took two steps forward and performed a leg-raising spin. "My child was standing still and didn't move. The robot's foot struck her directly on the left side of her upper lip, and she immediately collapsed to the ground," she added.
More than nine months have now passed since the incident, yet the girl's family and the involved parties have still not reached an agreement on compensation. The robot performance provider, Hefei Anda Chuangzhan Technology Co., Ltd., along with the Xiangyang Science and Technology Museum and the kindergarten, have each taken different stances regarding responsibility and compensation amounts.
As the child has now completed the first phase of five laser treatments, the family is seeking a one-time resolution. The materials submitted by Ms. Wang and her husband itemized medical expenses, transportation costs, nursing and lost wages, as well as projected future costs for scar and dental restoration, totaling more than 420,000 yuan. They have since reduced their demand to 150,000 yuan. Ms. Wang cited their trips to Shanghai for treatment as an example, noting that a single specialist consultation with laser procedures costs around 14,000 yuan, and once registration, travel, and accommodation are factored in, total expenses could approach 20,000 yuan. Such treatments would need to be repeated several times over the next three years.
Ms. Wang stated that if the full 150,000 yuan is paid, the family would be willing to conclude all future claims related to this injury, avoiding the need for repeated negotiations with every follow-up examination or treatment. However, a staff member surnamed Xiao from the museum said that some of the surgical, dental implant, and restoration procedures listed in the family's cost estimate have not yet occurred. Whether they will be needed, how many sessions are required, and what the costs will be currently lack definitive medical conclusions and would require third-party assessment.
On August 8, 2026, the museum, Anda Chuangzhan, the kindergarten, and the family held the latest round of negotiations. Anda Chuangzhan offered to pay 20,000 yuan on top of medical expenses, but framed it as "humanitarian assistance" rather than liability compensation, which the family declined. A representative from Anda Chuangzhan did not respond to questions about the specific amount during an interview, only stating that the company, the museum, and the kindergarten are still discussing the apportionment of responsibility. Ms. Wang noted that two teachers accompanied the child to the hospital throughout the day of the incident, and the kindergarten has cooperated since, but has not clearly expressed its position on compensation liability.