TOKYO, Feb. 9 -- Robots are playing server in a cafe in the Japanese capital's Asakusa district to attract more Chinese tourists during the Spring Festival.

Co-established by Nestle Japan and Chinese digital payment company Ant Financial, the robots are set to serve for 17 days starting Friday, covering the Chinese New Year holiday that begins on Feb. 15.

The coffee shop is expected to attract more Chinese tourists, as all Pepper robots are installed with software in Chinese including Alipay, a Chinese mobile payment service.

Customers can make orders in Chinese, speak Chinese with the robots and ask them to make special gestures used to wish a happy and prosperous Chinese new year.

A Xinhua reporter visiting the cafe said shoppers can also play an omikuji game with the robot servants to draw their fortune lots.

Pepper is a human-like robot manufactured by Japan's telecom and internet giant Softbank.

Equipped with a microphone, camera, and 3D sensor on its head, Pepper can identify and respond to people's facial expressions, voices and emotions.