A drone delivers orders to clients at the southern extension of the Great Wall of China in Beijing. (COURTESY PHOTO)

By GONG Qian

If you're a visitor to the Great Wall of China and you get hunger pangs whilst climbing all those stairs, there is no need to worry. You can now have your favorite food, drinks or even medical supplies in an emergency, delivered to you by drone service.

Recently, Chinese food delivery company Meituan announced its new airborne delivery service, sending goods to customers at the distant southern extension of Badaling. This marks the first drone service in Beijing, bringing much convenience to visitors.

Travelers can now use their phones to scan a QR code at the delivery location and place an order. Once the order is received and processed, an employee of Meituan will pick up goods from a neighboring store and transport them to a designated hotel rooftop. There, an operator will attach the package to a drone, which will fly to the pinned watchtower extension where the clients pick up their deliveries. The entire process takes just five minutes. Additionally, the drones can carry trash from the drop-off to recycling stations.

One challenge of logistics delivery by air is to ensure the stability of the aircraft during flight. This was achieved by Meituan's independent research and development to enhance the stability of the aircraft.

The drones can now carry up to 2.3 kilograms and even fly in moderate wind and rain.