Des drones transportent les crabes du lac Yangcheng, qui n'ont que 72 heures de « survie optimale »

On 28 September 2026, the crab fishing season officially began on Yangcheng Lake in Suzhou. The same day, JD Logistics used a drone to send the year's first net of crabs, fresh out of the water, Kuai Keji reports.

It is the first time drones have been used in this crab-producing area. They cover the short link between the edge of the ponds and the collection point. According to the site, they thus fill a “gap” in freshness on this route.

Speed matters: once out of the ponds, the crabs have only 72 hours of “optimal survival”, the article says. Keeping the crabs fresh and alive is therefore the main challenge of the shipment.

Drones are not the only robots involved. New sorting areas have been added, with sorting robots and automated systems to absorb the peak in orders.

According to Kuai Keji, more than 200 cities served from Jiangsu receive the crabs the day after they are sent.