China’s leading food delivery service has embraced drone technology to enhance efficiency in food delivery within the Shenzhen area, generating excitement among locals.
This news was shared by travel vloggers Adriana and Dylan on their TikTok account, accompanied by a statement and video. They expressed their amazement at the technology, noting they were unaware of its existence until they arrived in Shenzhen. “We just got a drone delivery here in Shenzhen, China. We didn’t even know this was a thing until we got here. The future is here Would you use this? #shenzhen #china #futuristic #wow.”
In the video, the couple is seen ordering coffee at a delivery booth and waiting eight minutes for the drone’s arrival. The drone is filmed soaring between skyscrapers to reach its destination. According to a 2023 article on the MIT Technology Review website, Meituan, the delivery company, does not deliver directly to doorsteps but instead has set up pick-up kiosks near residential and office buildings. The statement explains, “To make the service effective in a densely populated city, Meituan has opted not to deliver directly to doorsteps. Instead, it has established pick-up kiosks close to residential and office areas. Drones drop off packages at these kiosks, which can accommodate multiple deliveries at once. While this may be less convenient for customers, it allows drones to follow a predetermined route, simplifying navigation through urban areas.”
Meituan reportedly achieved over 100,000 drone deliveries in Shenzhen last year. One of the vloggers recounted their own experience, saying, “In 2022, Meituan completed more than 100,000 drone deliveries in Shenzhen. My experience wasn’t entirely smooth; on my first attempt, I accidentally ordered from a restaurant that was too far away. On my second try, I ordered after hours, not realizing the drones stop operating at 7 PM.”