STORY: A robot-staffed restaurant opened in Beijing's Xicheng district on Friday, with staff saying automation has lifted efficiency by nearly 50 percent.

Delivery robots moved between tables and food stalls on opening day, collecting dishes from different counters and carrying them to customers, while automated stir-fry machines tossed orders in robotic woks, a China News Service reporter observed. A network of ceiling-suspended conveyor belts handled takeout orders, ferrying packaged meals across the restaurant floor.

Zhao Menglong, a manager at the restaurant, said the overhead conveyor chain runs at high frequency, handling takeout dispatch and order verification across the full chain of stalls and all zones of the dining area. Operational efficiency has risen by almost 50 percent as a result, he said.

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

SHOWS: BEIJING, CHINA (OCTOBER 16, 2026) (PLEASE CREDIT: CNS) (CNS - NO ACCESS CHINESE MAINLAND MEDIA)

1. A ROBOT SERVING COFFEE TO A CUSTOMER

2. (VARIOUS) AN AUTOMATED STIR-FRY MACHINE TOSSING DISHES IN ITS WOK

3. A STAFF MEMBER LOADING DISHES INTO A DELIVERY ROBOT

4. A DELIVERY ROBOT CARRYING MEALS TO A TABLE

5. (SOUNDBITE) STAFF MEMBER, SAYING: "Now we just hang dishes on the device, and it takes them straight to the rider."

6. (VARIOUS) DISHES TRAVELING ALONG THE CEILING-MOUNTED CONVEYOR CHAIN TO THE TAKEOUT PICKUP POINT

7. (SOUNDBITE) ZHAO MENGLONG, GENERAL MANAGER OF JD 7FRESH FOOD MALL BUSINESS DEPARTMENT, SAYING: "As our floor space grows and the product range keeps expanding, the conveyor chain can run at high frequency to handle takeout dispatch and order verification for stalls along the entire chain and across every zone. We've lifted operational efficiency by almost 50 percent."