6 Real High-Tech Experiences in Beijing You Can Try Right Now (No Mandarin Needed!) – A Local’s Guide for Foreigners
- DolphinUnion
- Jan 16
- 4 min read
Think Beijing is Just Ancient Palaces and Crowds? Think Again.
You know the Forbidden City.
The Great Wall.
Old hutongs.
But what about driverless taxis on city roads?
Or drones delivering snacks to the top of a mountain?
Most travel sites say: “Beijing is history, not tech.”
They’re out of date.
I’ve helped thousands of foreign visitors since 2017.
And here’s what I see: Beijing has quietly become one of the best cities in China to try real, working high-tech as a tourist.
Take Tom from the UK, a teacher who came for Peking Opera.
He left raving about robot waiters,无人 buses near Olympic Park, and flying a drone-served sandwich at Badaling.“I thought it was all temples,” he said. “But I rode a car with no driver. It felt like 2030.”
This guide shows you:
Where to ride free self-driving shuttles
How to order food by drone at the Great Wall
Which tech companies let foreigners visit — no group needed
Let’s skip the old maps. Here’s what’s real today.
Fly Your Lunch to the Top of the Great Wall (Beijing high-tech experience guide for foreigners)
Hiking Badaling Great Wall (Bādālǐng Wàn Lǐ Chángchéng – northern section popular with tourists)?Tired and hungry? No shops nearby?
Here’s the fix: use a drone to deliver your snack.
At South Tower 9 (Nán Jiǔ Lóu), scan the QR code on the sign.
Use Meituan (a Chinese app like Uber Eats).Order water, sandwiches, baozi — even painkillers.
Your food arrives in 5 minutes.
No hiking back down.
A traveler from Australia tried it last spring:“I was stuck at the top. Then I saw a drone land with my soda. I filmed it. My students still ask if it was fake.”
To solve this: Only works in good weather.
Rain or strong wind = no flights.
Pro tip: Use Alipay. Link your Visa or Mastercard fast.
No need for a Chinese bank account.
Ride a Car With No Driver Inside the City
Forget taxis. Try a Robotaxi.
In Beijing’s Yizhuang (E-Town) district, hundreds of driverless cars run daily.
Try Apollo Go (Bǎidù Luóbo Kuàipǎo – Baidu’s robotaxi brand).
Download their app. English available.Sign up with passport. Pick-up points are marked.
Or use WeRide (Wén Yuǎn Zhī Xíng).
Fully unmanned. Commercial service. Pay by ride.
Both operate near Daxing Airport and Beijing South Railway Station.
Carlos from Brazil took one alone:“I sat in the back. The steering wheel moved by itself. I laughed the whole time. Safer than my cousin’s driving!”
Best times: Weekday mornings (10 AM–2 PM).
Avoid rush hour. Fewer cars = smoother rides.
Note: Free rides sometimes. Check the app for promo zones.
Eat at a Restaurant Run by Robots (Yes, Really)
Hungry after tech hunting?
Go to Robot Yanjiusuo (Jīqìrén Yànjiūsuǒ – Robot Research Lab) in Beijing E-Town.
It’s a real restaurant. Fully automated.
Robots cook jianbing, pour coffee, grill skewers.A robot bartender tells jokes in Mandarin — and tries English!
There’s even a robot band. And poet robots named “Li Bai” and “Su Shi” that write haikus.
Great for photos. Fun for kids. Food tastes good too.
One family from Germany said:“Our son high-fived a robot chef. We ate dumplings made by machine. Felt like sci-fi dinner.”
Here’s how to go: No reservation needed.
Just walk in. Open daily.
Cash not accepted. Use Alipay or WeChat Pay only.
Want more fun? Visit during weekend nights.
More robots active. Live shows every hour.
(Beijing high-tech experience guide for foreigners)
Visit Tech Giants Like Xiaomi & See Real Factories
Can you tour big Chinese tech firms?
Yes — but pick the right ones.
Skip Huawei. Not open.
Instead, try:
🔹 Xiaomi Auto Super Factory (Xiǎomǐ Qìchē Chāoyuè Gōngchǎng – in Yizhuang)
See 700+ robots build cars. Watch SU7 models roll off the line.
Test smart driving features. Voice control a full car system.
Book 3 days early. Limited slots. No photos inside.
🔹 Robot World (Jīqìrén Shìjiè – also in Yizhuang)
4,000㎡ space. Meet robot dogs, chess-playing arms, dancing humanoids.
Try VR flight sims. Watch surgery bots sort medicine.
No booking needed. Walk in. Some games cost ¥10–30.
🔹 JD Logistics Smart Warehouse (Yìzhuāng)
See AGV robots carry packages. Watch AI manage delivery routes.
Learn how Taobao orders reach homes so fast.
Must book via official WeChat. Ask for English guide.
An engineer from Japan loved the factory:“I’ve read about Industry 4.0. But seeing it live — robots doing everything — changed my mind.”
Plan ahead: Book Xiaomi and JD tours early.We help match solo travelers to groups.
Need Stress-Free Rides Between Tech Spots? We’ve Got You
After taking dozens of guests around, I know the drill.
Traffic. Language. Wrong apps.
That’s why we offer private, English-speaking transfers across Beijing.
From airport to hotel.
From Robot World to Apollo Go stop.
We plan every step.
👉 Get Your Custom Transfer Quote Now
WhatsApp: +15715728786
WeChat: DolphinUnion
Email: hansong@dolphinunion.com
We handle payments, navigation, and last-minute changes.
Also check out our new e-guide:
👉 144-Hours Beijing Classic Citywalk Tour Route
Inside:
✅ Forbidden City Secret Entrance: Skip 2-hour lines with our staff-assisted entry
✅ Three Great Wall Hikes: Wild & rugged, family-friendly, classic panoramic
✅ Temple of Heaven Secrets: Hidden meanings behind statues and numbers
✅ Local Eats Off the List: Century-old restaurants locals love
✅ Hutong Coffee Stops: Best siheyuan cafes with rooftop views
✅ Night Market Tips: When to go, what to eat, how to pay without cash
✅ Digital Tools: One-tap Amap links, Alipay setup guide, phrase cards for vendors
Real story from Emily from Canada:“I walked into the Palace like staff. Ate dumplings in a hidden courtyard. Felt like I lived there.”
Want proof before buying?
Includes sample pages from Beijing, Shanghai, Xi’an + full Day 1 itinerary.
Because exploring should feel effortless.
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