According to state-owned media CCTV Finance,Monica Swinn many people have recently noticed that their food delivery orders are being delivered by drones. At Yitian Plaza in Shenzhen, a reporter met operator Luo Xikun, who, along with his colleagues, efficiently packs, weighs, and swaps batteries for drone deliveries — all in under two minutes. The rooftop of the mall serves as a drone takeoff and landing hub for nearby food delivery orders. In certain locations, such as enclosed tourist attractions where traditional delivery riders have limited access, drone deliveries become the optimal choice. As of December 2024, Chinese delivery platform Meituan said that its drones have launched 53 routes in cities including Beijing, Shenzhen, Shanghai, and Guangzhou, with over 400,000 orders completed. [IThome, in Chinese]
