Can't bear to leave after playing—Taoyuan Xiangyi Robot Dream Factory!

As early as when he was about to turn four, we had planned to take him to visit the Robot Dream Factory, but at that time he preferred toy cars more, so we decided to wait a bit. After all, interests are important—otherwise, it would just be a waste of time and money. Now that we see how passionate he is about power machinery, it seems like the right time to show him the world of robots. Xiangyi has a large showroom, interactive areas, and DIY courses. The products sold in the showroom are all very unique, some of which are not easily available in regular stores, which is why many customers come back specifically to buy newly released special items.

Recalling news reports about students participating in power machinery exhibitions or competitions, I truly think robots are just amazing. When it comes to the Robot Dream Factory, everyone knows Xiangyi, and their experience camp courses really make me want to send Mentai there to have fun. Building these things is a lot like playing with LEGO, and kids who like LEGO often enjoy playing with gears too—the advantages of both are enhancing structural concepts and improving fine motor skills. But I had to rein myself in, or else my wallet would be empty in less than ten minutes...After buying the tickets, while waiting for the guided tour to start, Mentai happily wandered around, looking at everything and wanting to try playing with anything he could get his hands on. Just like that, he accidentally stumbled upon this super cool Drift God of War—it’s Xiangyi’s current flagship product. I thought it was just a sports car, but with a press of a button, it transformed into a robot. Suddenly, those cars at home that need finger effort to transform didn’t seem so special anymore. One set includes two cars, the other being a mini one that has incredible wall-climbing abilities—it just won’t fall off no matter what. This uniquely cool toy even got me interested, so naturally, how could Daddy not buy it? The robots in the display case captivated all the children—they stared in awe, clearly thinking the robots were so cool. And my husband almost bought a floor-cleaning robot for me to use—but hey, I’m not too old to move around yet. Let me think about it... The ticket booking process went smoothly that day, but it’s a pity that the DIY session and the guided tour overlapped in time, meaning we’ll have to come back again. There’s a red mailbox shaped like a robot—it actually makes sounds, talking and playing music intermittently, which is really fun. It “eats” postcards and there’s someone who will deliver them to your friends and family for you. The Xiangyi factory and showroom are separate, but they’re right next to each other. Enter through the FamilyMart, and the parking lot entrance is at the factory gate. Interestingly, the visitor entrance is actually inside the convenience store—if it weren’t for the sign at the entrance, first-time visitors might not find it. Maybe because it shares space with Xiangyi, this convenience store feels especially spacious. In front of the visitor entrance, there are two rows of robot model display cabinets, each robot with its unique appearance and design, and almost all are characters from anime or movies. Except for public holidays, guided tours are open on weekdays and weekends, though weekdays are mainly for group visitors, and individuals can join groups. Most factories require advance booking for tours, which isn’t always convenient—but at Xiangyi on weekends, no reservation is needed. Just buy a ticket before the tour starts and register on-site—it’s really convenient, isn’t it?

The guide led us through a shiny corridor, with the lights constantly changing colors—it felt like a scene straight out of Star Wars, something you don’t see just anywhere~ Coming out, we entered another long hallway. Who’s welcoming us? There are people playing baseball, and anime characters—it’s all made from scrap metal by Xiangyi, each piece a unique creation. The guide even gives a little quiz to test how much the kids know about these characters, and at the same time, it helps everyone realize that even scraps of junk can have value. The world of robots sparks endless imagination—how much time and effort goes into designing, assembling parts, and completing them. On the wall, there’s a creative piece titled “From Nothing to Something,” which illustrates the manufacturing process. Looking from the left, it’s a journey of memories; looking from the right, it’s the steps to making a robot.

Next, we officially stepped into the robot world. The electric doors opened and closed as everyone scrambled to stand in the same spot, waiting to be the first to enter... because many people spotted some really eye-catching robots~ Heavyweight characters from the movies have appeared!! OMG... these three life-sized Iron Man figures not only have perfect poses, but they are also the “only ones in Taiwan that actually move.” Another robot lady is also quite unique—as soon as we walked in, she bowed to everyone and said, “Welcome!” which scared the younger kids quite a bit. With the guide’s enthusiastic explanation, the kids all thought the Iron Men here were so cool—not only do their heads turn, but they can also shake hands. The second coolest robot is the “Sword Lion Gundam” right in front of us; the sword on its chest has a remarkable backstory, and it’s a pity not to hear it, especially for friends from Tainan, who would definitely be very interested. After admiring these two special robots, we watched a five-minute video introducing Xiangyi’s main products, diverse innovations, and future development. Among the many award-winning creations is the Black Bear Robot. Xiangyi is a gear factory, and hearing the explanation made everyone understand the principle that small parts can have a big impact. The guide asked everyone to get ready, with cameras or phones in hand, because the next performance was going to be amazing. The little red figures playing in the band were truly adorable, with super flexible joints, dancing along to the music, creating a festive New Year atmosphere. The indigenous robot was hand-stitched by the craftsman, mimicking the patterns on traditional clothing. And these two goofy-looking characters, A’Dai and A’Gua, could raise their eyebrows, blink, sing, and chat with everyone, almost like real people standing in front of you. Did you hear what Mentai said to A’Dai? Have you heard of smart homes? With the advancement of technology, I think life will become more and more convenient in the near future. Changing light bulbs is a hassle for many people—you’d need a ladder on standby at home, and moving it around, climbing up and down, is really tiring. Xiangyi developed a system where you can simply say the correct command “by voice,” and the light will automatically lower, making it quick, convenient, and effortless to change bulbs—no need for a ladder at all. The variety of robots in the factory is overwhelming, too many to count. This particular mold features all kinds of small and large components, and any metal material can be used—finding a necklace hidden in there would really be impressive if you can spot it. Finally, we arrived at the most anticipated interactive experience area. There are many fun and engaging robots here that you can operate yourself. Like the soccer game, where you control a six-legged robot to shoot the ball into the goal to score; or the ball-snatching game, where the first to push the ball into the goal wins; and there’s also a ball-picking-and-shooting game that really caught Mentai’s interest—he tried over and over until he finally made a basket. Then there’s the experience with large machinery—an alien-like creature that looks like a dog but wears Spider-Man gloves (we don’t know its name), which follows tracks on the floor, covering a small area within the interactive zone. Since it’s not fast, it’s quite suitable for Mentai to ride. The rotating and forward-backward-moving submarine is also pretty cool—you can sit one adult and one child inside and control it with a joystick. Mentai got so into it he even wanted Daddy to join him in the cockpit to drive it~ Before long, someone demonstrated the cool stunts of the wall-climbing car—this was one of the sets we later bought for Mentai. It’s small in size but climbs walls using strong suction. Hearing the kids’ amazed reactions, you know some crazy shopping is about to happen in the store (and we were part of it). And it’s not over yet—the rescue robot is about to show off its impressive skills. No matter what kind of terrain, nothing stops it from carrying out its mission—it’s a member of the rescue team, and it can handle blasting and bomb disposal too. A troupe of adorable mini lion and dragon dancers appear, moving in perfect sync—the lighting effects are fantastic, and everyone couldn’t help laughing, it was just too cute!! There’s even a festive New Year vibe to it. The final stage is an interactive area that even adults would go crazy for—compared to the earlier soccer game, this one is larger-scale, and the robots are even cooler.

But what attracts everyone the most is the “Fighting Arena,” where three people can compete at a time, each round lasting one minute—once time’s up, you have to line up again. These kids lined up at least three or four times, playing until they didn’t want to leave~ It’s like a mini version of the movies, and it’s extremely popular. There’s also an adult-exclusive experience called the “Motion-Sensing Robot,” where the robot mimics your movements exactly. The rock-paper-scissors arena is also quite fun and suitable for younger kids. Want to interact face-to-face with cool robots? This place is not only a paradise for little boys but also a dream come true for big boys—bring your kids along for an exciting fight!
However, what draws the most attention is the “Fighting Ring,” where up to three players can step in at once for one-minute rounds, after which they must queue again. The kids lined up at least three or four times, playing until they didn’t want to leave—it’s like a mini movie version, super popular. There’s also an adult-only experience called the “Motion-Sensing Robot,” where the robot perfectly mirrors your moves. The rock-paper-scissors ring is also quite entertaining, great for younger kids. Want to interact one-on-one with awesome robots? This place is a haven for little boys and a thrill for big boys too—bring your kids to experience an epic battle!

No. 461, Taoying Road, Taoyuan District, Taoyuan City ※ Closed every Monday ※ Ticket prices: General admission 200 TWD (150 TWD with check-in discount), Group ticket 150 TWD (for groups of 30+ from Taoyuan City), Discount ticket 100 TWD (for children aged 4–9, people with disabilities and one accompanying person, seniors aged 65+), Free (for children under 4) ※ DIY fees are extra, scheduled during public holiday guided tours

Authorized reprint from [Fish x Mentai’s “Visual” World Travel] | Original article: [[Travel]Xiangyi Robot Dream Factory—Fighting Robots & Motion-Sensing Fun All in One]

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