Lingering ‘idle men’ who hung about outside restaurants preceded today’s delivery drivers; others had their food sent using sedan chairs
But long before modern vehicles and technology, ancient China had already developed a rough version of food delivery services.
Historical records say that during the Han dynasty (206BC-220), an emperor once asked his officials about the living conditions of ordinary people.
To conceal the fact that famine had struck the city, one official deliberately bought a bowl of meat soup from a market, presented it to the emperor and claimed it was what commoners ate every day.
Historians believe the episode suggests that takeaway food from restaurants already existed in the Han period.
At the time, elites in major cities were said to buy takeaway food as gifts to show respect and build social ties.
