Footage shared online shows the robot, wearing a bright blue clown wig, throwing punches into the air before performing a 360-degree spin, the New York Post reported.

As it completes the movement, the machine, which stands 127 centimeters tall and weighs 35 kilograms, suddenly extends one leg and appears to hit a boy standing nearby in the stomach.

The child immediately doubles over and clutches his abdomen before falling to the ground as nearby spectators watch in shock. After making contact, the robot briefly stumbles backward, regains its balance and continues its routine.

The boy was not seriously injured, but his mother said event staff were slow to respond, according to Shanghai Daily.

The exact cause of the incident remains unclear. Some social media users speculated that the robot had miscalculated its movement during the demonstration, while others treated the mishap as a joke.

"Very soon we will be attacked by these robots," one user wrote on X, while another questioned why humans continue to develop machines that may eventually replace them.

The incident has renewed debate over the safety of deploying humanoid robots in public spaces. Modern machines can perform complex movements, including martial arts routines and acrobatic maneuvers, either autonomously or under remote control, Futurism reported.

The Xinjiang incident is not the first reported accident involving a humanoid robot. Earlier this year, another Unitree G1 robot reportedly lost its balance during a public performance in China. After falling, its uncontrolled limb movements struck a nearby man and injured his nose, according to Interesting Engineering.

A separate viral experiment in the U.S. last year also raised questions about humanoid robot safety. During a role-playing exercise, a robot named Max fired a BB gun at its owner after initially refusing the request but later complying when it was presented as part of a fictional scenario.