Spring goods boom, vibrant green! Early spring transportation data: Kunming shipments lead the way, Shanghai and Jiangsu particularly favor robots

Originally from: Yangtze Evening News

Spring Equinox has arrived, and willows are still not green, but China’s major logistics arteries have already sensed the change of seasons.

This early spring, in Guandu, Kunming, Yunnan, 15 tons of fresh flowers are carefully loaded onto trucks, crossing 6,062 kilometers to Lhasa, Tibet; in Yingkou, Liaoning, two 13-meter-high barrier trucks carry 70 tons of fertilizer, safely reaching Linzhi, 7,198 kilometers away; in the snowy Gannan, Jiangsu Xuzhou driver Liu Shixian connects the hope of spring planting in Daliang Mountain through his wheels.

These scattered points and lines on the map together outline a microscopic view of China’s economy in early spring 2026.

Recently, Yunmanman released big data on spring freight. In this spring full of the spirit of “horse racing,” freight logistics show the characteristics of “strong cargo flow, active routes, and new business formats.”

Yunmanman releases early spring freight data

Key cities continue to lead the freight boom. Data from the Yunmanman platform shows that in the first month after Lichun in 2026, the top core shipping cities nationwide are Kunming, Suzhou, Shanghai, Chengdu, and Harbin; the top five receiving cities are Shanghai, Linyi, Chongqing, Zhengzhou, and Weifang. The freight network’s north-south linkage and east-west connectivity enable quick cross-regional circulation of spring goods.

The three most popular transportation routes in early spring mainly focus on same-city and surrounding delivery: Chongqing to Chongqing, Shanghai to Shanghai, Suzhou to Suzhou, reflecting strong vitality in key cities and their surrounding industries. The top five shipped goods are agricultural materials, building materials, grains and husks, food and beverages, and metals and steel, covering agriculture, industry, and daily life, demonstrating the diverse resilience of economic recovery.

Spring flavors: from “flower routes” to “sugar content,” milk tea ingredients up 20.1%

Spring in Kunming can be measured by weight.

In the first month after Lichun, Kunming remains the top city nationwide for shipments on the Yunmanman platform. It is not only a “spring vegetable warehouse” but also a source of fresh flowers. On February 5, the day after Lichun, 15 tons of flowers departed from Guandu, Kunming, crossing 6,062 kilometers to Lhasa, Tibet. This is the longest “flower route” in early spring, allowing the snow plateau to smell the fragrance of spring city flowers.

“Most flowers are shipped at this time every year.” Changnian running in the Pearl River Delta, Xu Shuai, did not rest during the Spring Festival, full of energy. “Guangdong likes to display flowers and plants during the New Year, and the more shipped, the more fragrant the truck becomes.” Data from Yunmanman shows that in the first month after Lichun in 2026, Kunming, Guangzhou, and Chengdu are the top three cities for flower and plant shipments.

Beyond floral scents, fruit aromas are even stronger. Data from Yunmanman shows that in early spring 2026, fruit shipments increased by 38.05% year-on-year. Xishuangbanna, with its tropical produce, becomes the top city for fruit and sugar material shipments. Bananas, sugarcane, and mandarin oranges flood into citizens’ fruit bowls along popular routes from Xishuangbanna to Baoding, Zhengzhou, Chengdu, and Chongqing.

The taste of spring is also hidden in milk tea cups. With the launch of seasonal limited drinks, shipments of milk tea ingredients such as milk, honey, and preserved fruits increased by 20.1% year-on-year. These ingredients shipped from Shanghai, Chengdu, and Zhengzhou boost the “sugar content” of spring days.

Spring vegetables are still in demand on traditional dining tables. Potatoes, onions, cabbage, soybeans, and chili remain popular even in early spring. Kunming, Honghe, Zhanjiang, Qujing, and Yuxi continuously supply fresh spring vegetables.

High-tech spring plowing: agricultural supplies depart in snow

Spring plowing and preparation are deeply ingrained in Chinese seasonal rhythm. This year, the transportation of agricultural supplies shows significant technological enhancement. Data from Yunmanman indicates that microbial strains rank among the top five shipped seeds, injecting a technological variable into traditional spring farming. Cold chain logistics are also ramping up to help increase agricultural yields and income.

Demand for common agricultural seeds like corn, corn germ, rice seeds, and potato seeds continues to grow. Major departure points include Zhangye, Jiuquan, Changji, Suihua, and Yili. On February 6, Liu from Yili sent 80 tons of corn seeds to Jiamusi and Harbin, sowing “spring growth” in the northern land.

The journey of fertilizers is equally grand. Compound fertilizers, urea, finished fertilizers, organic fertilizers, and potash fertilizers depart from key cities like Dezhou, Yichang, Jingmen, Linyi, and Yingkou, along major routes such as Linyi to Weifang, Yingkou to Changchun, Kunming to Qujing, and others, heading to various production areas. On February 28, 70 tons of fertilizer traveled 7,198 kilometers from Yingkou, Liaoning, to Linzhi, Tibet, marking the longest “harvest road” in early spring.

Driver Liu Shixian on Yunmanman’s platform, traveling between his hometown Xuzhou, Jiangsu, and Daliang Mountain, Sichuan, transports agricultural supplies. In mid-March, he encountered heavy snow in Gannan. “Fertilizer loading had to wait for the snow to stop,” he said. “It snowed when we set out, but the weather cleared upon arrival—feels like this trip was worth it.”

Yunmanman platform drivers loading agricultural supplies

Smart manufacturing brings new momentum: robots become popular, green logistics accelerates

In the heart of manufacturing, another transformation is underway.

Supported by national subsidies and new product launches, digital home appliance freight is heating up. Air conditioners, electronic accessories, refrigerators, small appliances, and washing machines are among the top shipped products, with vibrant activity in industrial belt cities like Suzhou, Dongguan, Foshan, Shenzhen, and Guangzhou. Busy routes such as Suzhou to Suzhou, Dongguan to Dongguan, and Shanghai to Shanghai reflect the strong recovery of manufacturing and the continuous release of consumer demand for digital appliances.

The 2026 Spring Festival Gala’s humanoid robot became a hit, quickly spreading into freight circles. In the first month after Lichun, cities like Shanghai, Suzhou, Changzhou, Zibo, and Hangzhou became popular destinations for robot shipments, highlighting the advantages of Jiangsu, Zhejiang, and Shanghai. Popular routes include Changzhou to Changzhou, Shanghai to Shanghai, Suzhou to Suzhou, Changzhou to Wuhu, and Suzhou to Shanghai, showcasing “Jiangsu intelligent manufacturing.” To ensure the safe transport of high-value goods like robots, Yunmanman sets standards for preferred drivers in terms of handover, protection, and timeliness, providing professional training through online courses and order prompts, balancing speed and quality.

A more notable change is in “eco-green” logistics. Data shows that in the first month of Lichun 2026, the number of new energy vehicle drivers seeking freight on Yunmanman increased by 335% year-on-year. The number of new energy trucks rented or sold also grew by over 50% month-on-month, with eight new direct-operated stores opened in March, further accelerating the industry’s electrification.

Compared to traditional fuel vehicles, new energy drivers tend to be younger, with an average travel distance of about 217.67 kilometers, mainly transporting machinery, chemical raw materials and products, food and condiments, daily industrial goods, and cultural and sports supplies. Cities like Suzhou, Shanghai, Chongqing, Zhengzhou, and Chengdu lead in the use of new energy trucks.

Green wheels are reshaping the foundation of the logistics industry.

Spring on horseback: outdoor fashion, 50,000 trips already underway

2026 is the Year of the Horse, and this zodiac effect has unexpectedly been reflected in freight data.

As spring warms, horseback riding experiences are booming. Data from Yunmanman shows nearly 50,000 horse trips transported via the platform since Lichun. On February 20, 20 horses departed from Shigatse, Tibet, heading to Jining, Shandong, setting a new record for the longest “horse transport” after the Spring Festival.

The flow of the domestic horse industry is clearly visible: Inner Mongolia, Hebei, Heilongjiang are core shipping regions in northern pastoral areas; demand is strong in Hebei, Inner Mongolia, and Liaoning. High-frequency cross-city routes include Xilin Gol to Shijiazhuang, Hulunbuir to Shenyang, and Hulunbuir to Shijiazhuang. Barrier trucks of 4.2 meters, 6.8 meters, and 9.6 meters high, favored for ventilation, are the main vehicles for horse transport.

Yangtze Evening News / Ziniu News Reporter Xu Yuanyuan