In this undated file photo, workers serve food to diners at the Nanyuan Street Canteen for Elderly People in Guangzhou, Guangdong province. (PHOTO PROVIDED TO CHINA DAILY)

A special community canteen where robots stir-fry dishes has recently become a new attraction for tourists and diners in the Liwan district of Guangzhou, the capital city of Guangdong province.

The Nanyuan Street Canteen for Elderly People, which opened to the public on Dec 12, always fills up during peak dining periods.

Gao Dayi, the operator of the canteen, said it originally aimed to serve the elderly in the community.

"It surprises me that the canteen attracts so many young diners," he said. "The canteen is open to the public, but senior residents, aged 60 or older, can enjoy discounts.

Gao Dayi, the operator of the canteen, said the Nanyuan Street Canteen for Elderly People paid a great deal of attention to nutrition and health, and never added too much oil or seasoning to the dishes, in line with modern requirements for a healthy diet

"For example, a fast food dish with stir-fried meat and vegetables is about 14 yuan ($2) for senior residents, but costs at least 15 yuan for young diners."

Elderly people can also receive government subsidies worth at least 3 yuan every time they dine at the canteen.

Gao said the canteen offers more than 20 dishes to diners every day, adding that it is committed to providing healthy, mildly flavored, affordable and delicious food and good dining services for community residents.

He said it paid a great deal of attention to nutrition and health, and never added too much oil or seasoning to the dishes, in line with modern requirements for a healthy diet. "The canteen also provides some special services, such as delivery services and assisted dining services for elderly people with limited mobility," Gao said.

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One 85-year-old diner said the canteen's environment is comfortable and pleasant and the dishes' flavors are suitable for the elderly.

"My home is five or six minutes away from the canteen on foot, and my wife and I usually eat in the canteen about five or six days a week," he said.

"Previously, I used to buy groceries, while my wife was responsible for the cooking, but she was actually reluctant to cook, as she thought cooking was a big burden.

"After the canteen opened, the problem has been solved. The taste of the dishes is very much in line with my preferences, and there are many different dishes for us to choose from."

Luo Xueyi, an 83-year-old who lives by herself, said the canteen has made eating more convenient for the elderly.

"The food ingredients are reassuring," she said.

"Plus the dishes are frequently changed and the saltiness suits my taste very well."

In this undated file photo, two robots stir-fry dishes at the canteen. (PHOTO PROVIDED TO CHINA DAILY)

Office worker Deng Xianshen, one of the many younger diners, has become a regular at the canteen after being enticed by the satisfactory dishes and low prices on his first visit.

"I can enjoy a fast food dish with two meats and a vegetable at 15 yuan and, sometimes, 20 yuan if adding another dish," he said. "It's cheaper than ordering a takeout."

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Jian Yubing, a technical consultant who helps look after the stir-frying robots, said the robots now know about 500 recipes, and they can stir-fry up to 7 kilograms of vegetables at a time — enough for more than 15 dishes — in just 5 minutes or so

The dishes are served quickly, he said, adding that it took the robot only two minutes to complete a dish of scrambled egg with tomato.

The canteen is about a 10-minute walk from his workplace.

Jian Yubing, a technical consultant who helps look after the stir-frying robots, said the canteen now has two of them.

"As long as the chefs have keyed in the required time, degree of heat and related information for stir-frying on their mobile phones, then standardized dishes can be ensured and the time of serving is guaranteed," Jian said.

He said the seasonings are placed in boxes in advance and during the stir-frying process, the robots will automatically add ingredients in order and on time, accurate to the gram, and the degree of heat and pan flipping speed can also be adjusted to imitate a chef's skills.

Jian said the robots now know about 500 recipes, and they can stir-fry up to 7 kilograms of vegetables at a time — enough for more than 15 dishes — in just 5 minutes or so.

If a robot is required to stir-fry a small portion of vegetables, or one dish, it takes only two 2 minutes, he said.

Tan Shaojun, deputy director of Liwan's Nanyuan subdistrict office, said the subdistrict will continue to make great efforts to actively explore and scientifically plan a catering service network that solves the dining difficulties of elderly people and residents in the communities, allowing them to feel more fulfilled and happy in the months to come.

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Nanyuan street, in the city's old downtown area, has a registered permanent population of more than 57,000, including about 17,000 elderly people — 29 percent of the total.

Liwan district now has 116 elderly canteens.