Tourists exploring the Great Wall of China can now enjoy a unique convenience: food and drink delivered directly to them by drone. Chinese food delivery giant Meituan has launched this innovative service, enhancing the experience for visitors hiking on the iconic monument.
The new drone delivery service, announced last week, marks the first of its kind at the Great Wall and represents a significant addition to the rapidly expanding drone delivery industry in China. Known as the world’s largest manufacturer and exporter of civilian drones, China has been at the forefront of integrating these technologies into everyday life.
The drone delivery service caters to a section of the Great Wall located on the southern extension of Badaling, a popular and scenic area near Beijing. This extension, which opened last year, maintains the historical integrity of the ramparts and experiences intense summer heat with limited commercial amenities. Meituan’s drones are designed to address this gap by delivering food, drinks, and even medical supplies to hikers who might otherwise struggle to find refreshment.
Yan Yan, the public affairs director for Meituan’s drone business, highlighted the service’s benefits: “Through drones, we can make trips that take 50 minutes on foot in five minutes and deliver heat relief items and emergency supplies to visitors.” This capability is crucial in providing relief during sweltering summer conditions and ensuring that tourists have access to necessary supplies.
The drones, capable of flying in moderate wind and rain, can carry up to 2.3 kilograms (about 5 pounds) per trip. The service operates from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., with a delivery fee of just 4 yuan (56 cents), matching the cost of regular Meituan deliveries. After the delivery window closes, drones are repurposed to transport trash to recycling stations, demonstrating a commitment to maintaining the pristine environment of the Great Wall.
While the drones handle the flying, human involvement remains essential. Once an order is placed, a Meituan worker picks up the items from a nearby store and transports them to a hotel rooftop. There, the package is weighed, packaged, and attached to the drone. The drone then autonomously flies to the watchtower, where another worker receives and distributes the package to the customer.
The introduction of this service at the Great Wall is part of a broader trend in China, where drone delivery services have been rapidly expanding. Since the first trial of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) by e-commerce giant JD in 2016, which significantly reduced delivery times in rural areas, drones have increasingly been used for urban deliveries. Meituan, for instance, initiated its first drone delivery in Shenzhen in 2021 and now operates over 30 routes across various cities, handling more than 300,000 orders.
The expansion of drone delivery services is aligned with China’s government efforts to develop the “low-altitude economy,” which encompasses a range of businesses using both manned and unmanned aerial vehicles below an altitude of 1,000 meters (3,281 feet). This sector was highlighted as a key growth area in the central government’s work report earlier this year.
In summary, Meituan’s drone delivery service at the Great Wall of China represents a significant step forward in integrating advanced technology with tourism. This service not only enhances visitor experience by providing essential supplies quickly but also reflects China’s leadership in the evolving drone delivery industry.
