Automation, digital technology, and integrated logistics are transforming the way food moves from farms to consumers in southern China, with a smart cold chain hub in Guangzhou emerging as a key link between local producers and global markets.
Journalists from Chinese and international media visited the Yuhu Cold Chain (Guangzhou) Trading Centre on July 9, touring the facility which covers more than 380,000 square meters on a 20.8-hectare site in Huadu District.
The visit was part of the "Explore Guangdong: Embracing Rural Charm" media program, giving journalists a firsthand look at how digital infrastructure is modernizing agricultural supply chains and supporting rural development.
The center is Guangdong Province's first fully temperature-controlled smart cold chain trading park. It is also part of China's national cold chain logistics network and serves as an airport-oriented logistics hub for the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.
During the tour, the delegation visited the park's automated cold storage warehouse, smart operations center, food trading hall and multifunctional auction center, where advanced technologies are being used to improve efficiency, reduce food waste and strengthen food safety.
One of the highlights was the fully automated high-bay cold warehouse, where robotic systems handle storage and retrieval around the clock. The facility maintains multiple temperature zones for different categories of food, helping businesses reduce spoilage and speed up distribution.
Inside the park's digital operations center, large real-time dashboards monitor everything from frozen food transactions and customs clearance to warehouse operations, demonstrating how data technology is streamlining the entire cold chain.
The center integrates online trading with offline delivery through a digital platform. Businesses can access services ranging from global sourcing and intelligent warehousing to transportation, customs clearance and supply chain finance, all within one ecosystem.
Today, more than 600 companies operate in the park, trading products including beef, pork, poultry, seafood, prepared foods and ready-to-cook meals.
"We see digitalization as the driving force behind modern cold chain logistics," said Huang Jiebin, vice president of Yuhu Cold Chain and general manager of its Guangzhou operations.
According to Huang, the company has incorporated more than 60 digital technologies into its operations, including automated storage systems and a traceability platform known as the "Yuhu Code," allowing every product to be tracked throughout the supply chain while helping businesses lower costs and improve efficiency.
The company has also built an integrated cross-border logistics network covering overseas procurement, refrigerated transportation, customs clearance and financial services. The system helps Chinese agricultural products reach overseas markets more efficiently and enables imported food products to enter the Greater Bay Area more quickly.
Beyond improving logistics, Huang said the platform is helping connect small-scale agricultural producers with larger domestic and international markets. The company plans to further expand services such as producer-buyer matchmaking, agricultural branding and digital supply chain management to strengthen links between rural production areas and consumers worldwide.
As China continues to modernize its agricultural supply chains, facilities like Yuhu Cold Chain are increasingly serving as bridges between farms, businesses, and consumers, both within the country and across international markets.
Reporter | Li Fangwang
Photos | Li Fangwang
