Great Wall sees modern dining experiences with drone delivery

In a blend of ancient heritage and cutting-edge technology, travelers visiting the Great Wall of China in Beijing can now enjoy a modern dining experience thanks to a new drone delivery service.

Since last week, visitors to the Badaling section of the Great Wall have been able to order sandwiches, Chinese steamed buns, and essential supplies via the e-commerce platform Meituan. This innovative service combines advanced technology with one of the world's most iconic landmarks.

Operating in the South Nine Towers area of Badaling, the drone delivery service promises delivery times of 5 to 15 minutes. The minimum order amount is set at 20 yuan ($2.8), with a delivery fee of 4 yuan. Currently, two restaurants — The Subway and Qingfeng Baozipu — as well as one convenience store are participating in the service.

The South Nine Towers area, newly opened to the public at the end of last year, offers a more rugged and less commercialized section of the Wall. It preserves the Great Wall's historic remains while accommodating activities such as hiking, exploration, and photography. This drone service caters to visitors who previously had to walk nearly 30 minutes to access supplies due to the lack of on-site commercial facilities.

During the summer, recent high temperatures in Beijing have increased demand for emergency supplies like cooling products. According to the company, since launching the service, the drones have assisted a tourists with low blood sugar. Emergency deliveries take about 5 minutes, though the company declined to disclose the total number of orders received.

In addition to delivery, the drones also helped with waste collection after operating hours (10 am-4 pm), easing the burden on-site maintenance staff.

Meituan Vice President and head of drone operations, Mao Yinian, expressed optimism about expanding the service. "We hope to collaborate with more brands and scenarios in the future to enhance consumer experiences through technology," said Mao.

The company has launched over 30 drone routes in cities including Beijing, Shanghai, as well as Shenzhen and Guangzhou in Guangdong province, completing more than 300,000 orders. The service spans various sectors such as office deliveries, community services, scenic areas, and emergency medical supplies.

Li Xiaojin, a professor of aviation economics at Civil Aviation University in Tianjin, highlighted the growing convenience and potential of drone delivery services.

"For travelers, this service is extremely convenient," Li said, noting that similar services are previously seen in Shenzhen, where government subsidies cover between 60 to 100 yuan per order.

Looking to the future, Li emphasized drones' role in handling critical and urgent deliveries. "Drones are particularly suited for transporting vital items like blood or for emergencies, such as firefighting," he said.

Li outlined the main challenges for low-altitude logistics, noting that safety and economic feasibility are primary concerns. He identified three key areas for future development: enhancing high-end capabilities for users with higher budget flexibility, promoting digital management for safe and efficient operations, and incorporating intelligent systems to optimize flight paths for speed and safety.

"The low-altitude economy holds significant potential," Li said. "Almost all ground activities could potentially be moved to the air, with notable advancements in low-altitude transportation, logistics, tourism, and emergency services."

Li also highlighted China's advantages in this sector. "China has a substantial lead in the low-altitude economy," he said. "The country accounts for about 90 percent of global civilian drone production, and Chinese drones are priced at roughly 5 percent of those in other developed nations."

China's low-altitude economy, a strategic emerging industry, is expanding quickly, according to officials from the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC).

Sun Wensheng, deputy director of the CAAC's General Office, described the sector as highly innovative and tech-driven, with a complex industry chain and diverse applications. "The low-altitude economy demonstrates significant new productivity characteristics and offers vast development potential," Sun said.

Recent years have seen swift progress in the general aviation sector, driven by growing market demand and supportive policies, according to Shang Kejia, deputy director of the CAAC's Transport Department.

In terms of drones, China has also seen rapid growth. As of last year, there were nearly 1.27 million registered drones, marking a 32.2 percent increase from the previous year. The number of companies operating drones reached 19,000.

Luo Hongjiang, deputy director of the CAAC's Air Traffic Control Industry Management Office, noted: "The development of civilian drones is progressing well."