Robot monk Xian'er teaches temple visitors, chants mantras

Longquan Temple, a Buddhist temple not too far from Beijing, is home to Xian'er, a 2ft. The robot is an unexpected blend of modern with the ancient, and is designed to, among other things, teach visitors some basic things about Buddhism. The robot's purpose is fairly simple -- it is designed to attract visitor attention that may otherwise be dedicated to a smartphone. The robot is short and squat with a fun design. The tablet between his hands is a touchscreen on which visitors can view one of 20 questions.