“Visitors to the Great Wall of China can now enjoy the convenience of drone deliveries, bringing meals, drinks, and even medical supplies to remote sections of the historic landmark”
Tourists exploring the majestic Great Wall of China can now receive their lunch delivered by air, thanks to a groundbreaking drone service. Meituan, the Chinese delivery giant, has introduced this innovative service that transports food, beverages, and other essential items such as medical supplies to visitors at one of the most remote sections of the Wall.
China, known as the world’s largest producer and exporter of civilian drones, continues to push the boundaries of what these unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) can achieve. In both urban and rural areas, drones have revolutionized accessibility, offering convenience to those living in hard-to-reach locations.
The drone route at the Great Wall spans from the rooftop of a nearby hotel to a watchtower at Badaling, the most scenic and iconic section of this ancient structure. Opened to the public in 2023, this expanded area of the Wall lacks any retail outlets, making the drone service particularly valuable. With the ability to deliver a wide range of items, including emergency supplies, in just five minutes—compared to a 50-minute trek by foot—the drones provide a swift and reliable solution.
In the words of, the drones are designed to operate efficiently even in light rain and windy conditions, carrying up to 2.3 kilograms per flight. Remarkably, the delivery fee is just 4 yuan, on par with the company’s regular ground-based services. The drones accept orders between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., after which they are tasked with transporting waste to recycling stations.
Despite their advanced technology, these drones still require human assistance. Once an order is placed, a Meituan staff member collects the items from a nearby store and brings them to the hotel rooftop. There, the package is weighed, packed, and secured to the drone. The UAV then autonomously flies to the watchtower, where another staff member is on hand to receive the delivery and hand it over to the customer.
The Rise of Drone Delivery Services
In recent years, drone delivery services have rapidly expanded across China. E-commerce giant JD.com was a pioneer in this space, launching UAV deliveries to rural areas in 2016. With a payload capacity of 15 kilograms and a range of up to 20 kilometers, these drones have drastically reduced delivery times—from four hours by car on winding roads to under 20 minutes.
Beyond rural logistics, drones are also transforming urban delivery services. Meituan completed its first drone delivery in the southern tech hub of Shenzhen in 2021. The company now operates over 30 drone routes across multiple cities, having processed more than 300,000 orders to date.
To navigate the dense urban landscape, these drones follow pre-determined routes from launch points—typically rooftops—to designated drop-off locations. Instead of hovering outside apartment or office windows, they deliver to kiosks near residential and commercial buildings.
Since last year, Meituan has also set up drone delivery kiosks in public parks across Shanghai and Shenzhen, further expanding the reach of this cutting-edge service.
The growth of drone delivery services aligns with the Chinese government’s push for a “low-altitude economy,” a new economic driver focusing on manned and unmanned civilian aircraft operating below 3,000 meters. This emerging sector, identified at the Central Economic Work Conference in December 2023, is projected to expand to 2 trillion yuan (approximately $279 billion USD) by 2030.
