In China, drones now deliver fresh spring tea directly from mountain plantations to gourmets.

Chinese Pilot Project: Delivering Fresh Tea by UAV

In Guizhou province, AutoFlight successfully completed the country’s first experiment in which a cargo drone with a take‑off weight of 2 tons delivered freshly harvested spring tea from mountain plantations to Shanghai.

How the Test Was Conducted
1. Launch

- The tea was harvested in Anshun, located at an altitude of about 120 km above sea level.

- The *CarryAll (V2000CG)* drone flew for 37 minutes over rugged terrain, covering roughly 120 km. This time is significantly shorter than ground transport, which usually takes several hours.

2. Transfer to Rail Transport

- After arrival at the destination, the tea was loaded onto a high‑speed train carriage and shipped almost 2000 km to Shanghai.

- The entire journey from harvest to end consumer took less than one day.

Why This Matters
- Autonomous aerial logistics demonstrates that geographic challenges (mountainous areas, remoteness) are not an obstacle to delivering perishable goods.

- The *CarryAll* drone can take off and land vertically without a runway, making it ideal for agricultural regions with limited infrastructure.

- Its electric drive provides zero emissions and low noise, while the autonomous control system reduces operating costs and enhances safety.

Drone Technical Specifications
Parameter Value
Maximum payload 400 kg
Flight range up to 200 km
Cruising speed ~180 km/h

Future Outlook
- The first type certificates, production approvals, and airworthiness certifications obtained from China’s aviation regulator have paved the way for scaling the technology.

- AutoFlight views this project as a “new regional development plan” that could unlock economic opportunities for producers in mountain provinces such as Guizhou.

- In the future, autonomous aerial logistics may become the standard for delivering high‑quality perishable goods, supporting agricultural modernization and improving connectivity between remote regions and major markets.