[Aim]  To develop and evaluate an improved, intelligent beehive for honey bees (Apis spp.). [Methods]  The performance of current domestic, and international, intelligent beehives was analyzed in order to develop an optimized version. Based on this, a new, intelligent, beehive system was designed, comprised primarily of an intelligent rearing platform, an intelligent hive body, removable frame-integrated sensors, a smart, electric, hive entrance, cameras, and supporting software. We deployed this system to manage colonies of the Chinese honey bee (Apis cerana cerana). Key colony parameters, including temperature, humidity, CO₂ concentration, and sound, were monitored and analyzed during critical states such as swarming, queenlessness, and food shortage. [Results]  The novel intelligent beehive system effectively monitored colony temperature, humidity, CO₂ concentration, sound, hive weight, uploaded entrance images, and automatically regulated entrance size. Distinct changes in monitored parameters were detected during swarming, queenlessness and starvation allowing critical state alerts to be automatically communicated to beekeepers via SMS. [Conclusion]  The novel, intelligent, beehive described in this paper enables automated monitoring of colony status, thereby facilitating the maintenance of colony health and improved beekeeping standards. This beehive has considerable potential for the future optimization of apiculture in China.