Seniors rely on automated community cafe in Jilin

With a payment of just 17 yuan ($2.4), Zhai Wenge enjoyed a satisfying lunch consisting of four dishes and some rice at the Yishihao Community Cafeteria, located in a residential community of Changchun, Jilin province.

"The dishes provide balanced nutrition with a light flavor," said the 80-year-old Zhai. "My wife and I come here (nearly) every day for lunch — the proximity to my home makes it extremely convenient for us."

In the cafeteria's kitchen, a robotic chef was busy cooking various dishes, employing artificial intelligence technology to accurately dispense ingredients and seasonings within five minutes and automatically stir-fry dishes.

Additionally, there is a noodle-cooking robot that can flexibly and precisely adjust its cooking times based on the age of its customers.

The cafeteria also features an automated weight-based meal pickup system, allowing customers to weigh their food choices to confirm their nutritional preferences and seamlessly settle payments through an automated process.

With an area of 550 square meters, the cafeteria began operating in January last year.

"The robotic chef can cook up to four kilograms of food in a single session, and our staff can master the operation methods without professional training," said Qu Yan, manager of the cafeteria.

"We only have six staff members. The automation has helped reduce lots of labor costs."

According to Qu, the cafeteria serves nearly 300 customers every day, with lunchtime being the busiest period.

"We provide staple foods and cold dishes for breakfast and seven stir-fried dishes for lunch, complemented by some steamed and stewed dishes," said Qu. "The use of robots can reduce labor costs while ensuring consistent taste."

In addition to the elderly, the cafeteria also attracts younger customers, such as 34-year-old Chen Ping.

"It is a difficult task for me to cook many dishes at home, but I can have lots of choices at the cafeteria," she said. "Furthermore, the food prices are acceptable at the cafeteria, which also provides a clean and hygienic environment."

"Due to my busy work schedule, dining at the cafeteria has become a routine," she said. "Common restaurants often serve large portions, easily leading to waste. Many other eateries offer food with overly strong flavor, while the community cafeteria's dishes are healthier, with more dining options."

In its efforts to meet the diverse dining requirements of its elderly community, Changchun has in recent years actively promoted the establishment of a comprehensive elderly meal assistance service network that covers urban and rural areas.

So far, the city has built more than 600 elderly dining restaurants, serving a population of 2 million senior citizens.

"Elderly diners typically enjoy discounts ranging from 30 to 40 percent depending on their ages," said Li Shiqun, director of the elderly services department at the Changchun Civil Affairs Bureau. "Some of them offer free meals for those aged 90 and above."

The bureau has adhered to a model that combines governmental leadership with social participation, leveraging market mechanisms to offer diverse meal assistance support.

"We have built service models through various ways such as public-private partnerships, collaboration with food service enterprises, corporate cafeterias, demonstration in care facilities, and engagement with residential communities," he said.

"We have further supported urban neighborhoods in introducing central kitchens, deploying mobile meal delivery vehicles, and encouraging malls and supermarket food stalls to expand their elderly dining services."

The city has also introduced an Elderly Dining Assistance Card for universal use at these restaurants and launched an electronic map for residents to locate these particular restaurants.

To ensure convenience and safety for elderly diners, the bureau has implemented a series of supervisory measures, such as issuing and implementing a work plan that specifies construction standards for the restaurants.

Han Junhong in Changchun contributed to this story.