China Expands Drone Food Deliveries Ahead of APEC Summit
China is expanding its commercial drone delivery services, with food, coffee and beverages increasingly delivered to tourists across major cities, including Shenzhen, ahead of next week’s Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit.
In Shenzhen, a major technology hub in southern China, drones routinely fly across popular tourist destinations, delivering meals and drinks to customers who place orders by scanning QR codes.
However, the service has attracted attention from international visitors, with some describing the experience as innovative and exciting.
A Southeast Asian tourist, Liew Kee Ho, said drone deliveries were uncommon in Malaysia, making the experience particularly novel.
China has become one of the world’s leading markets for commercial drone logistics, supported by its extensive manufacturing industry, government investment in the low-altitude economy and expanding delivery networks.
Furthermore, Civil aviation authorities said 3.29 million drones were registered in the country by the end of 2025, while annual drone flight hours increased by nearly 70 per cent to 45.3 million.
Companies such as Meituan have established regular drone delivery routes in major cities, including Beijing, Shanghai and Shenzhen, as well as tourist destinations such as the Great Wall of China.
Some tourists have welcomed the technology, saying it makes food deliveries more convenient in parks and scenic locations where conventional delivery riders may struggle to locate customers.
Nonetheless, drone delivery services in Shenzhen will face a temporary suspension ahead of the APEC summit.
Meituan announced that it would suspend its drone delivery operations in the city for 10 days from November 11, following a request from regulators.
The company has yet to announce a date for the resumption of services, while its drone delivery operations in other cities remain unaffected.
