Shantou Toy Fair 2025 – AI & Drone Zone Leads Smart Toy Future

The Shantou Toy Fair 2025 has once again proven why this coastal city in southern China remains one of the most vibrant centers of global toy innovation. Known worldwide for its toy-manufacturing powerhouse district of Chenghai, Shantou is now moving beyond traditional production into a new era defined by AI, IoT, and intelligent play.

Among all the exhibition halls, the AI & Drone Zone became the biggest crowd magnet — showcasing programming robots, smart companion toys, IoT building blocks, and synchronized drone formations. Together, these displays painted a clear picture of how Shantou's toy industry is evolving from "manufacturing" to "intelligent manufacturing," or as locals put it, from "Made in Shantou" to "Smart-Made in Shantou."

AI & Drone Zone: The Pulse of Innovation at Shantou Toy Fair 2025

Every year, the Shantou International Toy Fair sets the tone for the global toy trade, but the 2025 edition went one step further. The AI & Drone Zone was buzzing with excitement — both figuratively and literally. Drones performed intricate aerial shows, while booths featured coding robots and educational AI companions responding to human speech.

Visitors watched as the AI-powered smart globe building set came to life. Equipped with an intelligent mini-program, it combined geography exploration, interactive games, and bilingual Q&A features — truly bringing learning through play to life. Meanwhile, drone teams showed precision flight control, hinting at the next generation of entertainment and educational tech toys.

What stood out most wasn't just the technology itself, but how naturally it blended with play value — keeping the joy of toys while embedding layers of interactivity and intelligence.

From Factory Floors to Intelligent Playrooms

For decades, Shantou's toy industry has built its global reputation on efficient production, competitive pricing, and massive variety. But the Shantou Toy Fair 2025 revealed something new: a complete transformation from quantity to quality, from simple mechanics to smart interactivity.

Manufacturers are now investing in R&D, software development, and AI system integration — signaling a major leap in the region's manufacturing mindset. The buzzword at the fair wasn't "production capacity," but "technological creativity."

Visitors encountered:

• Smart companion plush toys that respond to touch, recognize emotion, and play music.

• IoT building blocks that connect via Bluetooth and can be programmed through a mobile app, turning construction into coding.

• Robots with large model interaction systems, capable of understanding multiple languages and supporting STEM learning.

This seamless blend of AI + toys + education is defining a new direction for the entire industry.

"Toy + Technology": A Game-Changing Formula

The fair underscored a simple but powerful message: the future of toys lies in integration. "Toy + Technology" isn't just a slogan — it's a new industrial formula that combines hardware design, emotional intelligence, and digital interactivity.

For children, that means toys that listen, learn, and adapt. For parents, it offers educational and safety reassurance. For the B2B toy market — wholesalers, importers, distributors — it opens new opportunities to expand beyond price competition into value-driven sales.

An example from the AI & Drone Zone: programmable robots that allow buyers to set custom firmware, voice commands, or even local-language modules. This type of flexibility makes smart toys not just a product, but a platform — perfect for private labeling or regional customisation.

Impact on the Global Toy Supply Chain

The innovations seen at Shantou Toy Fair 2025 signal a ripple effect across global sourcing. For international buyers, the key takeaway is clear: China's toy industry — especially in Shantou and Chenghai — is no longer just a supplier of low-cost plastic toys. It's evolving into a source of intelligent play solutions.

This transformation benefits B2B buyers in several ways:

• Higher profit margins: Smart toys have perceived higher value, allowing distributors to price them more competitively in developed markets.

• New audience segments: Educational retailers, tech stores, and edutainment platforms are all potential new partners.

• Longer product lifecycle: Toys with upgradeable firmware or modular accessories stay relevant longer.

• Brand opportunities: Smart toys can easily be white-labeled or co-branded, supporting market differentiation.

For wholesalers, now is the perfect time to diversify portfolios and include smart toy lines alongside classic best-sellers.

Chenghai: The Smart Heart of Shantou's Toy Revolution

Behind the exhibition's success is Chenghai, Shantou's world-famous toy district that produces a large share of China’s exported toys. In 2025, its transformation into a smart manufacturing hub became evident.

With strong local supply chains, rapid prototyping, and decades of toy-making experience, Chenghai is perfectly positioned to lead the global "intelligent toy" revolution. As the Shantou Toy Fair 2025 demonstrated, the region's manufacturers are redefining their role from OEM suppliers to creative innovators.

The Future of the Toy Industry: Intelligent, Interactive, Individualized

The next decade of toys will not be about bigger molds or cheaper production — it will be about intelligence, interactivity, and individuality. Toys will increasingly combine AI, sensors, and emotional algorithms to create immersive experiences.

In this landscape, personalization becomes key. Imagine educational robots that remember a child's progress, or drones that can perform routines set by the user's app preferences. These trends mark the beginning of a new toy era — one where play evolves continuously, guided by AI and connected technologies.

For toy buyers and wholesalers, staying ahead means embracing this "smart wave" early — partnering with suppliers that understand both technology and global market needs.

Why Zhorya Stands Out Among Shantou's Toy Innovators

As one of the leading toy companies based in Shantou, Zhorya stands at the forefront of this transformation. With years of experience in the global toy market, Zhorya offers an extensive range of AI-powered toys, RC drones, interactive playsets, and educational products designed to meet modern market trends.

Our catalog covers everything from traditional battery-operated toys to next-generation IoT and programmable models, giving our clients flexibility to select both classic and high-tech lines. Each product can be customized — from packaging and logo design to sound modules or circuit programming — ensuring your brand stands out in competitive markets.

By sourcing from Zhorya, you gain access to the innovation ecosystem of Shantou's smart toy hub, along with professional support, competitive pricing, and reliable bulk order fulfillment.

Discover our full range of wholesale smart toys and explore new opportunities at:👉 https://www.zhorya.com

Conclusion

The Shantou Toy Fair 2025 clearly showed that the toy world is entering a new age — where AI, drones, IoT, and education blend into playful, intelligent experiences. As "Toy + Technology" becomes the driving theme, Shantou's manufacturers are setting a global benchmark for innovation.

For wholesalers and distributors worldwide, this is the best moment to connect with Shantou's emerging smart toy ecosystem. Whether you're expanding your educational toy range or launching a new smart play line, the opportunities born from Shantou Toy Fair 2025 are limitless.

And with partners like Zhorya, you can bring the excitement of intelligent play directly to your markets — efficiently, reliably, and at scale.