A drone delivers a Taobao Instant Commerce order on Huaniao Island, Zhoushan. [Photo/Tide News]

Four instant-delivery drone routes operated by Taobao Instant Commerce were launched on Nov 13 on Huaniao Island in Shengsi county, Zhoushan, East China's Zhejiang province, marking the company's first first island-based drone route in China.

Huaniao Island sits at the northern tip of the Shengsi Archipelago and has no bridge connection to the mainland. With most transport relying on ferries, the island's hilly terrain and narrow roads have long slowed distribution. Its main commercial area spans barely one kilometer, while residents in outlying areas such as Dengta village often wait longer for food and supplies.

This new drone system also enhances emergency response. With fewer than 1,000 permanent residents, over 70 percent of whom are aged 60 or older, Huaniao Island faces challenges in elderly care. Since September, a community kitchen has provided affordable hot meals to seniors, and drones now deliver these meals to remote villages in minutes. For example, on Nov 4, a 91-year-old resident received a freshly cooked lunch just three minutes after dispatch.

Taobao Instant Commerce has expanded unmanned delivery across multiple regions since 2018, with the debut of this island route marking a new step in integrating smart logistics, elderly services, and coastal tourism.