Tourism in China is no longer just about the Great Wall, pandas, and the Forbidden City.
More and more foreign travelers are adding “tech experiences” to their China itineraries. When you watch over 3,000 drones form a giant panda and constellation patterns in the night sky, when you sit in a driverless taxi with the steering wheel turning itself as it navigates city streets, when robots cook your meal, serve your food, and even mix your cocktail — you’ll feel like you’ve stepped into the future. This guide brings together the most worthwhile tech experiences China has to offer, from drones and autonomous driving to robot restaurants and EV factories.
- Drone Light Shows: “Cyber Fireworks” in the Night Sky
China leads the world in drone light show technology. Thousands of drones taking off simultaneously, positioning with precision, and forming three-dimensional patterns — this has become a new signature of Chinese cities.
1. Guilin, Guangxi – “Cyber Landscape” Immersive Show
On the evening of May 31, 2026, over a thousand drones took off over the Li River in Guilin, integrating with holographic water screens, live performances, and intangible cultural heritage experiences to create an immersive “cyber landscape” spectacle. Nearly 2,000foreign visitors from 67 countries and regions witnessed this moment. If you want the perfect blend of technology, landscape, and culture, Guilin is your top choice.
2. Dujiangyan – World Record Drone Show
On May 20, 2026, a world-class aerial tech spectacle took place at Qingcheng Mountain Airport in Dujiangyan. Suzhou’s “Wind Rider” simultaneously launched 33,615 drones to form three-dimensional images of giant pandas and the 28 lunar mansions, attracting widespread international media coverage. This is one of China’s largest drone light shows to date.
3. Shenzhen – “Air F1” Drone Racing
On March 27, 2026, the Shenzhen Longgang 2026 Sky Crossing FPV Drone Challenge was held at Shenzhen Universiade Center. The event used 4,500 drones to create a luminous aerial racetrack, with pilots controlling drones at speeds exceeding 200 km/h through six obstacles including Time Gates and Gravity Gates. The event brought together top pilots from mainland China, Hong Kong, and Macau. Shenzhen Universiade Center regularly hosts drone events and shows — no reservation needed, just show up and feel the thrill.
4. Dongguan, Guangdong – A Thousand Drones Light Up the Castle Night Sky
On the evening of May 23, 2026, a thousand drones lit up the sky over Longfeng Mountain Villa in Dongguan’s Fenggang Town. As a major event of the 2026 World Drone Congress Fenggang sub-venue, the drone formation complemented the castle nightscape.
How to find drone shows?
Drone shows are usually held irregularly. Recommended ways to stay informed:
Search “city name + drone show + dates” before your trip
Check Trip.com, Klook, and other travel platforms for “tech experience” activities
Some events post announcements on official WeChat channels about a week in advance
- Drone Delivery: Order Food That “Falls from the Sky”
Drone delivery has transitioned from a “novel experience” to everyday logistics in some cities. By the end of June 2026, Meituan Drones had completed over 1 million commercial orders, with routes covering Shenzhen, Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Hong Kong, and even Dubai — over 70 routes in total. In May 2026, Meituan Drones announced the official launch of its “low-altitude network” into regular operation.
Shenzhen – The Most Mature Drone Delivery City
Shenzhen leads the way in drone delivery. In multiple popular tourist areas, China’s first nighttime drone delivery service has already launched. In Shenzhen’s Longgang district, drone delivery kiosks have become a unique sight — food delivered via flying service.
How to use drone delivery?
Drone delivery requires three conditions: a specific area, a specific time window, and a specific pickup point. The process is straightforward:
Place an order through apps like Meituan (choose merchants that support drone delivery)
After the meal is prepared, ground staff load it onto the drone
The drone autonomously flies to the designated “smart pickup station”
You receive a notification and scan the code at the pickup point to collect your order
Pickup stations are usually located at community entrances, office plazas, or park main roads, with a coverage radius of about 300 meters. Important: drone delivery cannot bring food to your exact location — only to fixed pickup stations. Make sure you’re within the service area before placing your order.
- Robotaxis: Ride in a Car with “No Driver”
Robotaxis are a star attraction of China’s tech tourism. In videos shared by foreign travelers on social media, the most common scene is — the steering wheel turning on its own, an empty driver’s seat, and the vehicle automatically navigating city streets while yielding to pedestrians.
Wuhan – The Heartland of “Apollo Go”
Wuhan is currently the city with the most widespread robotaxi service in China. Baidu’s “Apollo Go” robotaxis are available in almost every corner of Wuhan. You can even take one to and from the airport. In 2026, Apollo Go launched a driverless tourism route service — “Apollo Go Express” :
Open the WeChat mini-program and search for “Apollo Go,” then tap “Apollo Go Express”
Choose a Wuhan-themed route and your pickup location
The autonomous vehicle takes you to check out Wuhan’s landmarks
The car even has karaoke and massage seat functions
A Wuhan resident shared: “I took my family to try the Apollo Go Express day pass during cherry blossom season. We visited several cherry blossom spots in one day without having to plan the route or find parking ourselves. The karaoke and massage functions kept my kids entertained the whole time.”
What’s the experience like? A visitor described it: “The ride was smooth with no sudden braking. It slowed down in advance when pedestrians were ahead. When turning, the steering wheel rotated automatically — so smooth it felt like an invisible, experienced driver was at the wheel.”
Shanghai – Xiangdao Robotaxi
Shanghai is another major city for robotaxi experiences. Xiangdao Robotaxi is China’s first L4 autonomous driving platform from an automaker, and received the first driverless demonstration operation license in Shanghai in 2025. To date, it has completed over 350,000 orders, driven safely over 4 million kilometers, with a user satisfaction rate of nearly 100% . The experience vehicles travel on designated open roads for about 20 minutes, automatically slowing down at intersections and actively yielding to pedestrians.
One participant said: “The acceleration and braking were smooth. It checks the traffic when turning — drives better than I do.”
A German blogger in Shanghai exclaimed: “This is crazy!” — no driver, no safety operator, just watching the steering wheel move on its own.
Top cities for robotaxi experiences
Beijing, Shanghai, Wuhan, Guangzhou, and Shenzhen are the top cities for robotaxi experiences. All have opened designated areas for autonomous driving pilots.
How to use it?
For foreign visitors, navigating China’s robotaxi apps might not be straightforward at first. But don’t worry — China is becoming more open to foreigners, the technology is constantly improving, and nearly every Chinese person is willing to help. Recommendations:
Download the corresponding app (e.g., “Apollo Go” for Wuhan, “Xiangdao” for Shanghai)
Register with your home country phone number
Enter your destination within the service area
Wait for the vehicle to arrive — you’ll see a car with sensors on the roof pull up
- New Energy Vehicle Factory Tours: Step Inside the “Factory of the Future”
“Factory tours” are becoming a new favorite among foreign travelers. Tech tourism built around “visiting factories, seeing technology, exploring industries” is gaining popularity among overseas visitors. Seven national ministries have jointly encouraged the development of “factory tourism” — facilities once off-limits with “production area — no entry” signs are now becoming must-visit destinations.
XPeng Motors – AI Smart Manufacturing Tour Now Open
The public can now book tours through XPeng’s official app, website, and WeChat account. The experience covers XPeng’s Global Headquarters Discovery Center in Guangzhou and its two smart manufacturing bases in Guangzhou and Zhaoqing. You can see the entire new energy vehicle production process up close and experience the beauty of smart manufacturing.
BYD – Henan’s First Industrial Tourism Route
Zhengzhou BYD’s industrial tourism route has officially launched in the Zhengzhou Airport Economy Zone. The route deeply integrates visit experiences with interactive entertainment, including factory floor visits, Sky Shuttle rides, and racetrack experiences. BYD’s “DiSpace” new energy vehicle science museum has also opened — an immersive experience space combining culture, design, technology, and hands-on activities. In Shenzhen’s Longgang Drone Industrial Park, visitors can explore a low-altitude science exhibition hall, watch indoor drone shows, and experience drone controlling.
Scale and pricing
On a one-day Shenzhen tech tour, the two must-do activities are: take a robotaxi, experience drone delivery. Such tech-focused tour packages can cost up to 60,000 RMB — though more affordable day-trip options are also available.
How to book factory tours?
Booking methods vary by company:
XPeng: Book through XPeng’s official app, website, or WeChat account
BYD: Check relevant channels for the Zhengzhou Airport Economy Zone
Other factories: Search “city name + industrial tourism + booking”
- Robot Restaurants: A Futuristic Dining Experience
Robot restaurants are becoming a new highlight in major Chinese cities. From greeting guests to cooking, serving, and cleaning — robots handle almost every step of the dining experience.
Shenzhen – The First Robot Restaurant Experience Store
On May 1, 2026, Shenzhen’s first robot restaurant experience store opened in Longgang’s Bantian area. Over a dozen types of robots handle the entire process — greeting, cooking, and bartending. Humanoid robots welcome diners at the entrance and even dance on request; robot chefs stir-fry dishes on programmed routines. The “Robot Labor Day” event that launched alongside it featured kung fu shows, piano performances, and other hardcore acts. Romanian tourist Dan I. Aru gave a thumbs up after tasting sweet and sour pork and three-cup chicken: “This is my first time in a robot restaurant. Popcorn loading, serving, cleaning — all done by robots. It’s fun and futuristic.”
Beijing – Full Robot Restaurant Draws International Visitors
A fully robotic restaurant in Beijing is packed every lunchtime. The biggest attraction is robotic arms making hot dogs and popcorn on the spot, while another robot mixes drinks with skill. Kitchen robots can even cook home-style dishes like scrambled eggs with tomatoes. Some visitors even came specifically from the Philippines to try the robots’ cooking.
Hangzhou – “Happy E Canteen” Robot Restaurant
Hangzhou’s “Happy E Canteen 24 Solar Terms Robot Restaurant” has officially opened, with robots serving as the “head chefs,” capable of cooking over 100 types of dishes. In the first two days of the holiday, it welcomed four groups of about 20 overseas visitors from Spain, Japan, and beyond. A Spanish visitor gave a thumbs up after tasting the food.
Robot Coffee Stations
At Shenzhen Talent Park, robot coffee stations are equally impressive — robotic arms complete the entire grinding and brewing process. Each robot can consistently produce hundreds of cups of coffee and ice cream daily, with zero errors in autonomous service.
How to find robot restaurants?
Search “robot restaurant” on Dianping or Meituan
Available in Shenzhen, Beijing, Hangzhou, Guangzhou, and other cities
Some high-end hotels also have delivery robots
- Practical Tips for Your Tech Tour
1. Top city recommendations
Shenzhen: Most concentrated drone delivery, robotaxis, and robot restaurants — known as “China’s Silicon Valley”
Shanghai: Mature robotaxi experiences, plus specialized half-day tech tours
Wuhan: Most widespread robotaxis, with tourist routes available
Guangzhou: Tech city walks, including driverless APM trains
Guilin / Dujiangyan: Drone shows combined with natural landscapes
2. Reservations and bookings
Robotaxi apps can be registered with your home country phone number
EV factory tours usually require advance reservations (XPeng via official app, BYD via relevant channels)
Robot restaurants can mostly be visited without reservations
For drone shows, follow local tourism WeChat accounts for updates
3. Tech-themed tour packages
If you prefer not to plan everything yourself, major travel platforms (GetYourGuide, Trip.com, etc.) now offer dedicated tech-themed day tours. A one-day Shenzhen tech tour typically includes: drone delivery experience, robotaxi ride, DJI flagship store visit, and robot interaction.
4. Photos and sharing
Tech experiences are perfect for photos and short videos — the steering wheel turning itself in a robotaxi, a drone flying overhead with your food, robots cooking your meal — these are all highly shareable content on overseas social media.
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