Drone tests are carried out on Wind-Matrix, a complex of complex air flow simulation and environments at low altitude, in the Shensi laboratory of the University of China Electronic Sciences and Technology (Shenzhen).
During the holiday holidays that have just passed, Shenzhen revealed the full potential of its low -altitude economy. In the Window of the World’s tourist area in Shenzhen, an air ballet with synchronized drones with fireworks has transformed the night sky into a digital canvas. In the district of Longgang, inhabitants flew over the city by helicopter, discovering the beauty of the city from a new angle. In the Port Futian, drones-litters are activated tirelessly, simplifying the back and forth between Shenzhen and Hongkong by transporting the goods in a flash. In the new Dapeng area, lulled by the waves, low -altitude rescue planes are on permanent alert, to accompany and secure travelers, day and night.
The “urban flight” is now established as a tangible reality in Shenzhen, a pioneering metropolis which accelerates its metamorphosis in the air mobility laboratory. In recent years, the city has multiplied innovations such as inter-terminal air shuttles or EVTOL flying taxis (electric aircraft with vertical take-off and landing). A real cartography of the sky is taking shape at high speed.
The first standardized center for demonstration of urban air traffic operations in China in Shenzhen, May 9, 2024
Favorable policies
The year 2024 marks a historic turning point for the economy of low altitude in China: for the first time, this sector was enrolled in the activity report of the government of the Council of State Affairs. The province of Guangdong clearly proposed to support the construction of integrated demonstration zones of general aviation in several cities, including Shenzhen. The objective is to make the region of the large bay Guangdong – Hong Kong – Macao a high place in the low -altitude economy.
Shenzhen, still at the forefront, has already set up a strategic roadmap to speed up this transition. After having published measures in 2023 to support high -quality development in the sector, Shenzhen published in February 2024 the Rules on the Promotion of the Low Altitude economy in the special economic zone of Shenzhen. This text, the first legislation of gender in China, refocuses efforts by several aspects, among other things, infrastructure, flight services, industrial application, technological innovation and security management.
In August, Shenzhen organized a special conference on high quality development of the low -altitude economy, publishing ambitious action plans covering key areas such as infrastructure, the opening of airspace and the development of industrial clusters. Three months later, the municipality published a project (2024-2026) for building high quality infrastructure for the low-altitude economy. The results are already tangible: at the end of 2024, Shenzhen had 483 take -off and landing sites for low altitude flight.
With the multiplication of favorable policies, more and more leading companies and scientific research institutes have set up in Shenzhen, among others, Ehang (world leader in technological platforms for autonomous air vehicles, whose headquarters is located in Guangzhou) and Autoflight (leading innovator in the field of Evtol technology, based in Shanghai).
According to the association of the Shenzhen drones industry, the city brings together more than 1,700 companies related to the industrial chain of the low -altitude economy. Among them are R&D and drone manufacturing companies such as DJI and Robotics altar, as well as low -altitude application companies such as Fenieii Technology, Meituan Dones, Shenzhen Eastern General Aviation and Citico Offshore Helicopter. This concentration of expertise is reinforced by the presence of numerous R&D institutes, allowing the city to form a complete industrial chain, from design to marketing, including manufacturing and associated services. Today, the Metropolis has the largest number of size companies in this sector.
Visitors discover the Jouav VTOL system at the International Exhibition on the Basse Altitude economy and unmanned air systems, at the Congress and Exhibitions Center in Shenzhen, May 24, 2024.
Concrete application
Considered the “hermès of the telephone shells” with premium products exceeding 500 yuan room, the Casety brand confirms its global reference status.
At the end of 2024, this brand created in Shenzhen, by collaborating with Fengyi Technology, the first air corridor at low altitude dedicated to corporate logistics, materialized by a drone platform on the roof of a Longgang warehouse. As soon as they leave the warehouse, the products are on board specialized cargo drones to travel more than 40 km to Bao’an International Airport. With this argument, 96 % of interurban orders can be delivered the next day, considerably improving the shopping experience of customers.
In the parks of Shenzhen, a lunch break turns into a technological show: in ten minutes chrono, between two moments of relaxation, the walkers see their dishes “falling from the sky”. A feat made possible by Meituan Drones which erected in the city the first Center for the Control of Remobiles of China and the first smart factory producing drones.
Today, the variety of objects flying in the air of Shenzhen exceeds our imagination: seafood, pockets of medical blood, jewelry, gold, electronic components and daily items. According to data published by the Transport Bureau of the Municipality of Shenzhen, in 2024, Shenzhen opened 250 drone airways, making 776,000 freight transport flights per drone and 28,000 inhabited helicopter flights, and has built 483 takeoff and landing installations of various types and 80,000 5G antennas, allowing network coverage in the air space up to 120 m altitude.
New height
The development of the low -altitude economy of Shenzhen marks a decisive step in the evolution of the city. Today, the City is under construction of an R&D center for business seats, a high-end intelligent manufacturing center, a demonstration and validation center for all application environments, and an all-in-one solutions supply center. Guided by political measures and powered by market demand, the process of industrialization of the low -altitude economy of Shenzhen has entered an acceleration period. According to screenings in the sector, the production value of the low -altitude economy of Shenzhen is expected to exceed 100 billion yuan in 2025.
In order to improve the efficiency of the use of airspace resources and guarantee the safety of low -altitude flights, Shenzhen accelerates the construction of an integrated intelligent system for low altitudes. This system focuses on the development of functions such as real -time transmission of information on cooperative flight targets, flight conflict alerts, the submission of flight plans, as well as a visualization system called “Basse Altitudes”.
In 2024, Shenzhen received approval for the construction of an integrated demonstration zone at the national level dedicated to the low -altitude economy. A set of standards is being developed, in order to consolidate the bases for the next development and growth phase of the low -altitude economy in Shenzhen.
*Dai Xiaorong is a journalist at
