Digital intelligence illuminates the countryside—Jiayuguan City's "Smart Logistics" breaks through the final mile of rural delivery. Zheng Lulu sorts packages at a service station.
On a clear winter day in the Hexi Corridor, at the Jinyi Urban-Rural E-commerce and Express Logistics Distribution Center in Jiayuguan City, several unmanned delivery vehicles marked with "Intelligent Delivery" slowly start up and proceed steadily along their predetermined routes. They have no driver yet know to yield to pedestrians and recognize road conditions; they operate silently, quietly coming and going, steadily delivering packages to surrounding villages.
"Previously, getting packages into villages was costly and time-consuming, but now with these 'smart helpers,' we save on labor, and villagers can pick up their items as conveniently as city dwellers," said Guo Haiying, head of J&T Express in Jiayuguan City, pointing to the busy unmanned vehicles. Behind her is a modern logistics park that consolidates the sorting centers of nine express delivery companies from the city, where automated sorting lines operate at high speed, precisely diverting packages like flowing water to various areas.
Jiayuguan, a northwestern industrial city repeatedly honored as one of "China's Happiest Cities," is exploring the intelligent practice of using "smart parcel lockers + unmanned delivery vehicles" to assist with delivering packages to villages. It is leveraging technological power to solve the "final mile" problem in rural logistics, allowing the reach of digitalization and intelligence to extend to every village corner. Villagers pick up packages at a service station.
**Digital Intelligence Delivery - Accelerating Rural Distribution**
In July 2024, the first unmanned delivery vehicle arrived in Jiayuguan City for J&T Express. This "little guy" that looks like a mini-bus quickly became a novelty topic among villagers.
"It runs steadily, automatically slows down when it encounters pedestrians; it's very reliable," said Zhao Yan, a J&T Express staff member, for whom one daily task is greeting the arrival of these "unmanned couriers." When a vehicle stops steadily at the door, Zhao scans the QR code on its body, the compartment door opens automatically, and she simply needs to place the sorted packages inside in an orderly fashion.
The approximately 3-kilometer route from the Jinyi distribution center to the service station in Anyuangou Village, Xincheng Town, takes the unmanned vehicle just 15 minutes. Following a vehicle on duty, one can witness its "daily routine": on wide roads, it maintains a safe speed of 30 km/h; it slows down in advance to observe at intersections; it stops automatically at red lights; and when a vehicle ahead moves slowly, it maintains a safe distance until it can safely overtake, operating with precision and order throughout the journey.
"After setting the route, we can remotely dispatch it via mobile phone. It's available on demand, safe, and efficient, with each vehicle saving the company about 30,000 yuan annually in costs," Guo Haiying explained. While costs for labor and fuel are significantly reduced, transport efficiency is also markedly improved. Upon arrival at a station, waiting staff scan a code to open the compartment and retrieve the neatly arranged packages.
Furthermore, "24-hour unattended service stations" with smart parcel lockers further enhance station efficiency.
Entering the Anyuangou Village station, smart lockers are neatly lined up at the entrance with clear instructions. Villagers can self-service pick up their items anytime using the retrieval code sent via SMS.
"Before, picking up a package meant traveling several kilometers and coordinating with the courier's schedule. If I missed their working hours, I had to wait until the next day," said Wu Qingjun, a villager from Anyuangou Village, Xincheng Town, who rode his electric bike to the station, entered a code, saw the locker door pop open, and smoothly retrieved his online purchase of daily necessities. "Now the station is right near home, just a few minutes away, and accessible 24/7. It's as convenient as in the city." As he spoke, several other villagers arrived—some picking up items themselves, others inquiring about sending packages. Station staff member Zheng Lulu patiently answered questions, creating a lively and warm atmosphere.
Another villager, Zhao Hairong, retrieved his package from the station's shelves: "Before, we waited for the courier's unified delivery. Now we can come anytime to pick it up. It's like having a 'delivery supermarket' at our doorstep, no longer worrying about missing the pickup time." Staff load packages into an unmanned delivery vehicle.
**Intelligent Urban-Rural Chain - Empowering a New Economic Engine**
The efficient operation of unmanned delivery is underpinned by the comprehensive intelligent upgrade of Jiayuguan City's express logistics system. This smart logistics framework has become vital infrastructure for driving the development of rural e-commerce.
Inside the Jinyi distribution center, automated sorting equipment operates non-stop, a scene of bustling activity. Packages move rapidly on conveyor belts, automatically diverted by intelligent recognition systems to various rural stations.
"Previously, manual sorting could only handle about 3,000 pieces per hour. Now, the fully automated sorting line can manage up to 10,000 pieces per hour," explained Yan Huizhen, a second-level principal staff member of the Industry Management Section at the Jiayuguan Municipal Postal Administration. In 2024, Jiayuguan City secured central government funds to support four express companies—China Post, Yunda, J&T Express, and YTO Express—in purchasing four sets of automated sorting equipment and two security inspection machines, more than tripling sorting efficiency. Various express brands also cooperatively use a shared distribution platform system, further reducing operational costs.
Yan Huizhen stated that previously, each express brand operated separately, leading to repetitive and circuitous routes into villages. Now, the sorting centers of nine express brands are concentrated within the park, breaking the old fragmented operational pattern. Cooperative delivery routes into villages have been shortened by approximately 50 kilometers. Combined with the advantages of automated sorting, this has enabled a leap forward for rural express delivery in the city from "some deliveries taking an extra day" to "all deliveries being made on the same day."
"The sorting accuracy rate has increased to over 99%, and labor costs have decreased by 30%. These are the tangible benefits brought by technology," Guo Haiying said. Previously, drivers had to wait until enough packages accumulated before departing, and villagers had to time their pickups precisely. Now, packages can be dispatched immediately upon arrival, and villagers no longer have to wait.
Smart logistics not only makes sending industrial goods to the countryside more convenient but also opens new channels for sending agricultural products to urban markets.
At the Anyuangou Village comprehensive logistics service station, Zheng Lulu is busy packaging local agricultural products like peppers, onions, and pears for shipment outside the province: "It's so convenient to send local specialties out now. Packaged today, they reach Lanzhou tomorrow and Xi'an the day after. The speed is no less than in the city."
"We plan to gradually equip stations with additional functions like agricultural supplies and techniques, production-marketing connections, and e-commerce incubation, achieving 'multiple functions at a single point'," Yan Huizhen explained. Jiayuguan City will focus on local agricultural specialties such as beef, lamb, onions, and peppers to create express delivery service projects for modern agriculture brands, develop cold chain delivery services for fresh agricultural products, reduce circulation losses, and help farmers expand their sales channels. An unmanned delivery vehicle.
**Station Network Weaving - A "Circle of Happiness" for Public Services**
Across Jiayuguan City's 16 administrative villages, each has a comprehensive mail and express logistics service station staffed by a public welfare position worker like Zheng Lulu. They handle the sending and receiving for multiple express brands in the city, managing over 500 mail and express items daily on average. They are not only the final link in delivering packages to villages but also an important bridge connecting urban and rural areas and serving fellow villagers.
Zheng Lulu is a villager from Jiayuguan Village in Yuquan Town. With two school-age children to care for, she previously couldn't work outside the home. Now employed at the station, she earns a monthly salary of 3,000 yuan from the express company plus a 600 yuan government subsidy for the public welfare position. "This job offers flexible hours, supplements the family income, and allows me to care for my family. Helping villagers send and receive packages every day, everyone is friendly when we meet. Life feels full and meaningful," Zheng Lulu told a reporter while organizing packages.
As of now, all 16 administrative villages in Jiayuguan City have achieved full coverage of express delivery services from all brands. The rural areas have been equipped with 54 sets of smart parcel lockers and 3 unmanned delivery vehicles. Five village-level "24-hour unattended service stations" have been established. From January to September 2025, 446,900 express items were delivered in rural areas.
A relevant official from the Jiayuguan Municipal Postal Administration explained that to protect the rights of public welfare position workers, the Postal Administration, jointly with the Municipal Agriculture and Rural Affairs Bureau, Finance Bureau, and Suburban Office, conducts quarterly assessments and promptly distributes the monthly 600 yuan subsidy. In the first three quarters of 2025, subsidies totaling 86,400 yuan have been disbursed to 16 public welfare position workers, making the service more motivated and warmer. Concurrently, based on each village's实际情况 (actual situation), Jiayuguan City continues to expand the coverage of the "smart unmanned delivery vehicle + 24-hour unmanned service station" delivery model and promote the coordinated development of rural e-commerce and express delivery through demonstration projects.
Cui Yunxing, a farmer from Shiqiao Village in Wenshu Town, has already experienced the benefits. The pears from his farm, shipped via the station's cold chain service, reach customers in other provinces the next day, with a 30% reduction in spoilage and a noticeable increase in income. He said, "Before, I was afraid to sell too many pears for fear they would spoil during shipping. Now, with the cold chain, I don't have to worry anymore. I plan to grow more and sell them nationwide via express delivery!"
From automated sorting in logistics parks to unmanned vehicles on rural roads, to 24-hour smart stations at villagers' doorsteps, Jiayuguan City is using digital and intelligent means to break through the "final mile" of rural package delivery. This allows rural residents to enjoy express delivery services that match the city's status as one of "China's Happiest Cities," connecting a "path of hope" for rural revitalization. A villager retrieves a package from a smart locker.
**Reporter's Notes: The Warmth Behind Smart Logistics**
Feng Baoqiang
In the urban and rural areas of Jiayuguan in winter, the warm sun shines on wide asphalt roads. Unmanned delivery vehicles shuttle steadily; crowds gather at smart stations at village entrances. Smart logistics is quietly transforming people's lives. The power of technology is bringing urban and rural areas closer, extending the warmth of the "Happiest City" to every corner.
Once, "difficult pickup and distant sending" were common grievances for rural residents. Now, unmanned delivery covering 3 kilometers in 15 minutes and smart lockers available 24/7 have freed villagers from the troubles of "traveling far and waiting for specific times." The smile on Wu Qingjun's face when picking up his package and Zhao Hairong's mention of a "delivery supermarket" are vivid testaments to digital intelligent services. For rural workers like Zheng Lulu, the public welfare station positions provide not only stable income but also allow them to realize their self-worth while caring for their families.
The value of smart logistics extends beyond just "speed" and "convenience." Automated sorting lines have changed delivery timelines from "next day" to "same day." Cold chain delivery has led to "greatly reduced spoilage and expanded sales channels" for Cui Yunxing's pears. The shared distribution model has significantly lowered corporate operating costs. From sending industrial goods下乡 (to the countryside) to sending agricultural products上行 (to urban markets), from public services to economic empowerment, the reach of digital intelligence is accelerating the flow of resources between urban and rural areas.
Sixteen village-level service stations, 54 sets of smart lockers, 3 unmanned delivery vehicles... Behind these numbers lie the service hubs connecting urban and rural areas in Jiayuguan City, the small pivots activating the economy, and the people-centered new development philosophy that allows rural residents to share in the benefits of development, reflecting the warmth of民生 (livelihoods).
Though the spark of digital intelligence may seem small, it ignites the hope of rural revitalization. It is believed that as service functions continue to expand, the warmth of this "National Happiest City" will持续浸润 (continuously permeate) every corner of the countryside, making the vision of livable, workable, beautiful, and harmonious villages increasingly clear and tangible.
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