The 2026 China Langfang International Economic and Trade Fair provided a vivid showcase for the real-world "logistics marvels" unfolding today. These include fresh lychees from South China reaching customers in Hohhot 2,500 kilometers away within 24 hours, flowers from Yunnan blooming in Southeast Asia via refrigerated containers, and drones delivering packages across cityscapes. Within Halls 3 and 4 of the Lingang International Convention and Exhibition Center, cutting-edge hardware and smart logistics scenarios were on full display. The widespread adoption of unmanned operations across warehousing, sorting, and delivery nodes, flexible robotic-assisted workflows, and AI-powered process optimization not only explains the speed of modern delivery but also offers a glimpse into the next era of logistics.
Robotic Arms and AI Brains: A Quiet Revolution in Productivity
The deep integration of hardware and software is becoming a key driver in the evolution of smart logistics. A 10,000-square-meter "showroom" demonstrating a complete smart logistics chain was a highlight in Hall 4. At the Huayan Robot exhibition area, a silver S-series heavy-duty robot performed a silent, precise dance. Its 1.8-meter arm moved deftly, handling and palletizing goods at a rapid pace of up to 13 cycles per minute, with a 30kg payload capacity. "This S30 robot is our flagship, self-developed product. Its significance lies not just in its specs, but in liberating workers from high-intensity, repetitive labor," explained Ma Haoran, a technical engineer from Guangdong Huayan Robot Co., Ltd. In sectors like food and daily chemicals, these robots, working in concert with AGVs and automated racks, are closing the final 100-meter automation gap, slashing labor costs while boosting production efficiency dramatically.
If robots are the visible "iron arms," then the invisible "digital brain" is spearheading another efficiency revolution. How do fresh lychees travel 2,500 km from South China to Hohhot in 24 hours? Huang Yixiao, a senior operations research algorithm engineer at SF Group, provided the answer. "During the lychee season, we set up temporary collection points in producing areas. After picking, lychees are handed directly to our couriers for airport delivery, bypassing transfer stations," he said. The AI-powered "SF Super Brain" creates a 1:1 digital twin of the physical logistics network. It calculates in milliseconds the optimal flight for the lychees upon airport arrival and the best connecting ground transport, ensuring seamless routing. This system has reportedly accelerated the delivery of over 1 billion parcels. This shift from "man-to-goods" to "goods-to-man," from manual supervision to digital orchestration, represents a profound productivity revolution, ushering in a new ecosystem where "unmanned" and "intelligent" operations are deeply integrated.
From Sky to Ground: An Ever-Expanding Circulation Network
The transportation network forms the "lifeblood" of logistics, constantly extending its reach. This year's fair featured exhibitions on low-altitude economy logistics applications and multimodal "Belt and Road" China-Europe rail freight, painting a picture of a three-dimensional "sky network and ground chessboard." Looking skyward, EHang Intelligent not only displayed its autonomous passenger aircraft but also its EH216-L unmanned logistics aircraft. "This model is suitable for large cargo transport within cities and suburbs over distances up to 35km, capable of vertical take-off/landing, precision positioning, and real-time networked dispatch," said He Tianxing, Vice President of EHang Intelligent. Meanwhile, SF Group's ARK 80 made its Hebei debut. As the world's first lift-wing multi-rotor logistics drone, with a 30kg payload and 60km range, it offers all-weather flight capabilities and supports various mission payloads, presenting a novel solution for medium-distance low-altitude logistics.
On the ground, multimodal transport systems demonstrate robust momentum. At the Hebei Land Port exhibition area, products like Gaoyang towels and Linxi bearings were showcased. "Relying on Shijiazhuang International Land Port, we've innovated with a 'cross-border consolidation warehouse' model, placing logistics nodes right at the doorstep of industrial clusters," said Yu Chenjun, Corporate Communications Manager of Hebei International Land Port Co., Ltd. This provides one-stop services for booking, consolidation, and customs clearance, enabling "consolidation in the county, shipment from the land port, and global reach." As a national multimodal transport demonstration project, it seamlessly connects road, rail, and sea, facilitating Hebei goods' global journey.
New paradigms are also emerging for "cold chain logistics." The rail-road intermodal refrigerated containers exhibited by CRRC Shijiazhuang Co., Ltd. feature advantages like uninterrupted cooling and climate control. Already deployed on the China-Laos Railway, they transport Yunnan flowers to Vientiane and Bangkok and bring tropical fruits like durian and longan back to China.
Decarbonization and Sharing: Alternative "Algorithms" for Logistics Cost Reduction
Alongside the pursuit of peak efficiency, "slimming down and greening up" has become another central theme. In Hall 3's equipment exhibition, brands like ZTO Express, BYD, and Sany showcased new energy vehicles and eco-friendly packaging, providing solutions for the industry's green transition. "ZTO is actively promoting green and reusable packaging. Small parcel packaging is fully biodegradable. By the end of 2025, ZTO had cumulatively deployed 60.19 million reusable bags, with a 100% usage rate at hubs," said Li Binbin from ZTO Express's Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei Management Center. Where permitted, new energy unmanned delivery vehicles are now standard at their last-mile outlets.
At the BYD forklift section, staff presented a clear "green calculation": in some enterprises, a traditional diesel forklift costs about 100 yuan per day, while a pure-electric one costs only 20 yuan in electricity, saving 80%. With frequent use, the initial price difference can be recouped in about a year. BYD's electric forklifts are now widely used in manufacturing, warehousing, and express delivery. On highways, the green line is extending. Data shows Hebei had 39,000 new energy heavy-duty commercial vehicles in 2025, ranking first nationally, with charging facilities covering all expressway service areas. The province plans to add 5,000 more such vehicles this year, maintaining a green transport mode share above 90% at coastal ports. Green logistics is becoming an industry consensus.
Simultaneously, new models for logistics sharing and co-distribution are emerging. In Xianghe, an urban-rural smart co-distribution center integrates six courier companies, including China Post, YTO, J&T, and Yunda, achieving "shared warehousing, sorting, distribution, and transport." Handan has built 14 county-level logistics centers, shifting courier firms from "operating independently" to "sharing resources," reducing overall costs by 20%. The numbers are compelling: in Q1, Hebei's total social logistics cost-to-GDP ratio was 13.7%, down 0.2 percentage points year-on-year and 0.3 points below the national average. A vision of a smarter, more cost-efficient, green, and collaborative modern commercial logistics system is rapidly becoming a reality across the region.