Modern designs that reflect traditional Shanghai culture will adorn gift packages containing time-honored merchandise.[Photo/China Daily]

"There are so many products worth recommending to domestic travelers and expatriates such as Shanghai Coffee and White Rabbit candies but these brands have entered an awkward bottleneck in terms of development," said Feng.

"People outside of Shanghai and those from the younger generation hardly know about these brands today, so we decided to approach the Time-Honored Association and work together to rebuild their popularity."

The first machine was set up at the Jing'an Temple metro station where Lines 2 and 7 intersect. Consumers can purchase the goods using their debit or credit cards. The machine, which occupies an area of just 2.5 square meters, requires minimal maintenance and has already attracted many customers.