From cutting-edge unmanned aircraft to digital platforms for airspace management, the low-altitude economy has taken center stage with a dedicated exhibition area at an ongoing expo held in Xi'an, capital of northwest China's Shaanxi Province.
With an exhibition area of approximately 10,000 square meters, the low-altitude economy area features over 100 aircraft, including fixed-wing models and multi-rotor drones from more than 300 enterprises, at the ninth Silk Road International Exposition that runs from May 21 to 25.
Among the models on display is an unmanned aircraft that completed its maiden flight in Shaanxi in 1958, as well as different types of modern electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft.
Xi'an ASN Technology Group Co., Ltd. has brought more than 10 industrial drones to the expo, including an eVTOL.
With a wingspan of 5.2 meters and a payload capacity of up to 30 kg, the eVTOL can carry aerial cameras, emergency supplies and other equipment, making it suitable for logistics, infrastructure inspection and emergency response, according to the company.
The company is a fine example of Shaanxi's burgeoning low-altitude economy. In recent years, Shaanxi has developed a well-established industrial chain for aviation development and production, while expanding the sector's applications to include tourism, crop and forest protection, and urban environmental management.
In 2024, Shaanxi's aviation and unmanned aircraft production industry generated an output of nearly 200 billion yuan (about 27.8 billion U.S. dollars).
At the expo, Shaanxi Transportation Holding Group presented a three-dimensional sand table model demonstrating how the integration of road and air networks would support the low-altitude economy.
"According to our calculations, by leveraging existing power and communication infrastructure, the upfront investment costs for low-altitude infrastructure could be cut by 50 percent," said Lin Dong, a product manager with the Xi'an Highway Research Institute Co., Ltd., affiliated with the group.
He added that they plan to take advantage of airspace above roadside areas and establish take-off and landing sites at toll stations, parking areas and expressway service areas.
The inclusion of such a new exhibition area at the expo, which traditionally focuses on trade and investment, reflects China's strategic push to boost the low-altitude sector and expand its footprint.
China has included the low-altitude economy in the government work report for two consecutive years. In May, the drone fleet flight planner was recognized by the country's human resources authorities as a new profession.
As China takes well-ordered steps to scale up the industry through policy support and technological innovation, effective supervision and management is becoming increasingly vital amid the growing prevalence of unmanned aircraft and frequent flight activities.
China Telecom, a leading Chinese telecom operator, showcased a low-altitude service supervision and management platform at the expo.
"The system enables real-time aircraft monitoring and trajectory conflict detection. It also integrates weather data and other information to enhance airspace flow management and flight safety," said Wang Ziyi from the Shaanxi branch of China Telecom, adding that the platform is currently operational in the cities of Suzhou and Guangzhou.
With supportive policies, a robust industrial foundation and growing commercial applications, China's low-altitude economy is set to take flight.
The Civil Aviation Administration of China has forecast a significant surge in market value, projecting that the sector would soar from 500 billion yuan in 2023 to 1.5 trillion yuan in 2025, and that it could reach an astounding 3.5 trillion yuan by 2035.
Lin said that as an emerging sector, the low-altitude economy has been emphasized by the government and will become a key driver of high-quality development.
"The company will fully integrate its existing road network resources to extend expressway infrastructure vertically into an 'aerial expressway network,' establishing a comprehensive transportation system encompassing management, maintenance and operations," he said.
