Why go shopping with bodyguards when you can take humanoid robots out with you to carry your purchases?

A middle-aged man said to be part of China's nouveau riche circle has made local headlines after he was photographed shopping in Guangzhou while escorted by eight robots dressed like maids on Thursday.

But instead of inciting envy among people, Chinese netizens have criticised the man for his crass behaviour.

Chinese media outlets are also openly calling the man a "tuhao" — the slang word that's commonly used in China to describe people who got rich overnight, but displays a lack of taste.

Humanoid robots are quite the rage across China. On Monday, the first robot wait staff restaurant opened in Guiyang City, Guizhou.

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