Postal and express delivery services handle over 1.5b parcels during holiday

China's postal and express delivery services handled more than 1.51 billion parcels during the three-day Dragon Boat Festival holiday, a 19.4 percent increase compared to the same period last year, according to the State Post Bureau of China.

The surge in parcel volume — from May 31 to June 2 — highlights the growing vitality of China's "holiday economy" and underscores ongoing innovation within the logistics sector to better serve both consumers and businesses, the bureau said.

Courier companies across the country launched targeted delivery campaigns tailored for the holiday, with a particular focus on the booming demand for traditional food items such as zongzi, the glutinous rice dumpling central to the festival. In Jiaxing, eastern China's Zhejiang province, famous for its zongzi, local delivery firms launched a dedicated service line and smart logistics stations that shaved 2–3 hours off delivery times.

In rural areas of Hubei province, residents used mobile phones to send handcrafted zongzi via unmanned delivery vehicles that autonomously navigated to the county's logistics center. Meanwhile, companies in Guizhou province adopted specialized insulated packaging to ensure fresh delivery of perishable holiday goods.

The use of smart technology, including automated sorting, intelligent warehousing, and AI-powered transport systems, has expanded rapidly across the industry, significantly improving operational efficiency during the holiday rush.

With summer produce such as lychees, loquats, and cherries entering peak season, the courier industry has also ramped up fresh goods logistics. New innovations include full-cargo air routes, temperature-controlled packaging, and rural delivery networks.

Liu Jiang, director of strategic planning department at the State Post Bureau's Development Research Center, said the sector is embracing digital transformation to meet seasonal demand. Innovations such as unmanned vehicles and smart stations are improving service convenience, while enhanced cold-chain logistics and rural delivery infrastructure are reducing spoilage and expanding reach.

luowangshu@chinadaily.com.cn