In Tibetan village, driverless vans bring fresh prosperity

Since last summer, a futuristic service has been changing the lives of rural residents in a Tibetan village in Gansu province — unmanned delivery vehicles.

Lulian village is about 20 kilometers from the Longnan city distribution center. In the past, delivery personnel had to rely on small trucks to transport parcels, but due to the difficult rural road conditions and high transportation costs, efficiency was low.

The unmanned vehicles have kept the delivery time from the distribution center to Lulian to about 50 minutes to an hour, but the vehicles are better equipped to navigate various weather conditions. The arrival time at each parcel delivery station is preset and precise.

"The use of unmanned vehicles has solved our biggest problem — the 'last mile' of delivery," said Cheng Jie, manager of the ZTO Express Longnan branch. "Not only have they reduced labor costs, but they've also increased delivery efficiency."

The unmanned vehicles resemble small vans with a streamlined exterior. They have large cameras on top, and can travel at speeds up to 40 km/hour.

They require no driver or safety personnel onboard, and the express delivery company simply needs to staff the distribution center and parcel station.

Cheng said the company recognizes the advantages of using unmanned vehicles, and will add more to the six in operation at its Longnan branch.

Driverless cars are changing the way local logistics operate, effectively solving the "last mile" delivery issue in rural areas. A national campaign launched in 2014 to promote parcel deliveries in rural areas has been instrumental in establishing a nationwide rural delivery network.

"Over the past decade, the country's rural logistics system has rapidly evolved from barely non-existent to increasingly sophisticated, providing millions of rural residents with faster and more accessible delivery services," said Lin Hu, director of the market inspection department of the State Post Bureau of China.

Today, nearly 98 percent of townships across the country are covered by delivery stations, and many rural communities now enjoy direct access to express delivery.

"As of last year, China had 337,800 parcel delivery stations in villages. The 'last mile' issue in rural parcel delivery is being effectively addressed," Lin said.

From 2021 to this year, the State Post Bureau of China focused on further strengthening the rural delivery infrastructure, and accelerating the application of innovative technologies such as unmanned vehicles.

The unmanned vehicle delivery service in Lulian is a shining example of this progress. However, their initial arrival left many villagers feeling a bit apprehensive.

"At first, many people gathered around to watch the vehicles as they started running. It was like watching monkeys at the zoo," Cheng recalled.

However, as residents became more familiar with the unmanned vehicles, their concerns began to ease.

Jayang, who manages the village's parcel delivery station, said that the unmanned cars have not only saved him time but also improved delivery efficiency. In the past, he had to drive to the distribution center to pick up parcels, often having to wait, especially during peak times. Now, with the unmanned vehicles, deliveries arrive on time, making the entire process much more convenient.

The unmanned vehicles have not only improved delivery efficiency, but also created opportunities for local farmers to expand their market reach.

In the past, many villagers would send local specialties such as homemade cured meats and peppercorns to other regions, but slow delivery times limited their ability to reach wider markets. With the faster delivery times provided by unmanned vehicles, these products can now reach distribution centers the same day, increasing local farmers' incomes.