China: Drones deliver food, supplies to tourists on Great Wall
China's food delivery giant, Meituan, has launched a unique drone service for tourists visiting the Great Wall of China. This innovative service aims to deliver food, beverages, and other essentials like medical supplies to visitors at a remote section of the ancient monument near Beijing. The initiative marks Beijing's first-ever drone service and contributes to the rapidly expanding drone delivery sector in China.
Drone route and delivery capabilities
The drone delivery route for the Great Wall service starts from a hotel rooftop and ends at a watchtower on the southern extension of Badaling. This is a popular section of the Great Wall that often experiences high summer temperatures and lacks commercial facilities. Yan Yan, Public Affairs Director of Meituan's drone business, highlighted the efficiency of this new service in an interview with state broadcaster CCTV.
Delivering emergency supplies and heat relief items
Yan emphasized the ability of drones to significantly reduce delivery times. "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," she said. According to Meituan, these drones are capable of flying in moderate wind and rain conditions, carrying up to 2.3kg per trip.
Affordable service for tourists
The cost of this drone delivery service is set at CNY 4 (approximately ₹50), which is the same as regular Meituan deliveries, according to Beijing Youth Daily. The service operates from 10:00am to 4:00pm local time after which the drones are repurposed for transporting trash to recycling stations. It is important to note that human intervention is still required in this process, particularly in picking up orders from stores and attaching them to drones.
