Chongqing - On August 4, Chongqing issued an orange high-temperature alert, the second highest level in the country's warning system, with daily temperatures expected to exceed 37°C. As the heatwave persists, more people are staying indoors, resulting in a surge in takeout orders.
Data from delivery platforms show that orders for beverages and cold drinks have increased by over 40% year-on-year since July. Consequently, delivery riders have become some of the busiest workers during this scorching summer.
Delivery rider Lei Maoquan braves the scorching heat to deliver goods to Banan District, Chongqing residents on August 2. (Photo/Liu Li)
Riders and customers support each other
On August 2, at 1 p.m., DADA delivery rider Lei Maoquan received an urgent order for two bags of rice to a community in Yudong Street, Banan District. The building had no elevator, and the order had to be delivered within 30 minutes, a task many riders avoid. Despite not having had lunch, Lei took the order.
Lei arrived at the pickup point within ten minutes, drenched in sweat. The merchant handed him the 11-pound bags of rice, and Lei noticed a note on the receipt: “No need to knock, leave the rice outside. There is bottled water for you. Sorry for the inconvenience of no elevator. Thank you for your hard work!”
After placing the rice in his motorcycle’s storage, Lei shared that such gestures from customers are common, underscoring the mutual care between riders and customers.
Delivery rider Lei Maoquan braves the scorching heat to deliver goods to Banan District, Chongqing residents on August 2. (Photo/Liu Li)
On August 3, at 10 a.m., the delivery rider Ning Rongbo had already completed over 20 orders. His busiest period was from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Despite the heat turning his helmet into a “steamer,” Ning didn't remove it to save time, jogging a kilometer to the pickup location. Walking 20,000 steps daily is routine for him.
Ning noted the significant increase in cold drink orders, which now make up about half of his deliveries. To ensure customer satisfaction, he takes extra care to maintain the drinks' temperature and prevent spills during transit.
Chongqing’s heartfelt support for delivery workers
As riders and customers reach out to each other, the city also provides heartfelt support for delivery workers. Many shopping malls offer free rest areas for delivery workers. For example, near the entrance of a downtown mall, there is a “Delivery Rider Station” with air conditioning, free drinking water, seating, and heatstroke prevention supplies.
In the Guanyinqiao business district, rider Wang Qiang grabbed a bottle of water from a “loving icebox.” These iceboxes, labeled “Salute to City Workers Under the High Temperature,” are filled with frozen water and heatstroke prevention medicine, available for free to outdoor workers.
Delivery rider Lei Maoquan departs from the rider station, which provides a cool resting place for delivery workers, to pick up an order in Banan District, Chongqing, on August 2. (Photo/Liu Li)
A rider station established last year near Yudong Wanda Plaza provides air conditioning, a water dispenser, and a freezer. Riders can rest there during lunchtime. Lei Maoquan remarked that such facilities show the city's appreciation and care for its workers.
(Qiu Xiaoya, Liu Li, Chinese reporters from Chongqing Daily, and Huang Lingjing, an intern, also contributed to this article.)