Drone delivery services started on Dec 5 in Jinan's Central Business District (CBD) in Lixia district, marking a new step in the city's low-altitude smart logistics development.

In the CBD, where dense high-rise buildings and heavy traffic complicate traditional delivery, Shandong SF Express and the Jinan Low-Altitude Economic Development Group have introduced a system that combines drones, unmanned vehicles, and delivery robots.

Under this system, drones land at delivery cabinets beneath the China Life building to drop off parcels, which are then transferred to robots that follow programmed routes to complete last-mile delivery, a process that takes about half an hour. Time-sensitive items are handled through the drone-robot link, while regular parcels are delivered by unmanned vehicles and robots.

The CBD plans to expand the system, extending services beyond parcel delivery to include retail, food, medical supplies, and scenarios such as tourism and emergency response.

A drone delivers a parcel to the China Life building in Jinan's CBD. [Photo/DaZhong News]