The low-altitude economy refers to a comprehensive economic system centered on both manned and unmanned low-altitude flight operations conducted in airspace below 1,000 meters (and in special cases, up to 3,000 meters), with applications spanning multiple sectors. Amid the global boom, China has elevated the low-altitude economy to a national strategic priority, and is actively driving the industry's transformation and upgrading. According to forecasts by the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC), the market size of China's low-altitude economy is expected to reach 1.5 trillion yuan by 2025 and exceed 3.5 trillion yuan by 2035, gaining a significant position in the global innovation landscape. Various innovators are actively pursuing intellectual property (IP) portfolios and achieving new technological breakthroughs. This surge in innovation is not only transforming traditional industries but also giving rise to entirely new business models, fostering new engines of economic growth. Today's Bilingual Weekly highlights five major application scenarios of the low-altitude economy, showcasing the potential of "low-altitude plus" to drive cross-sector integration through strong IP protection and technological innovation.

Smart logistics

At Shenzhen's Window of the World theme park, visitors can simply place an order on their smartphones and receive food deliveries within 15 minutes via drones, effectively solving the challenge of food delivery. The delivery companies have continuously advanced drone technologies, particularly in intelligent scheduling algorithms and advanced safety systems, enabling drones to fly steadily even in adverse weather conditions.

With growing market demand, the potential for low-altitude logistics continues to expand. For example, the Phoenix Wings drones have been deployed across the Pearl River Delta region, completing more than 5,000 daily deliveries to mountainous and island areas. Compared to traditional methods, this reduces transportation costs by 60%. The rapid iteration of emerging technologies is accelerating the restructuring of conventional logistics workflows, injecting powerful momentum into the industry's intelligent and efficient transformation.

Precision agriculture

During this year's spring ploughing season, more than 120 unmanned intelligent sugarcane planters were deployed in Baise, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. Equipped with the BeiDou Navigation Satellite System, these autonomous machines carried out integrated sowing operations at a sugarcane demonstration base. By reducing labor intensity and cutting costs, they also boosted the sugarcane germination rate to 90%. It is estimated that this could raise farmers' income by 400 to 500 yuan per mu.

With the rise of the low-altitude economy, unmanned agricultural equipment is becoming the key driver of agricultural modernization. Empowered by patented technologies, the deep integration of digital tools with agricultural production is not only improving efficiency, but also significantly strengthening rural low-altitude service capabilities, providing renewed impetus for rural revitalization and industrial upgrading.

Aerial tourism

In Chengdu, Sichuan Province, the combination of low-altitude economy and cultural tourism is emerging as a new growth driver, creating a strong supply-demand trend. In January this year, Chengdu Cultural & Tourism Development Group successfully completed the test flight of its first low-altitude tourism route. The route connects the iconic panda IP with the World Heritage Site Dujiangyan, allowing visitors to board a sightseeing flight over the centuries-old water conservancy project after visiting the panda base. Data shows that from January to April 2025, Chengdu recorded over 45,000 low-altitude tourism flights, including aerial sightseeing and skydiving, an 18.1% year-on-year increase.

Among different application scenarios, the low-altitude cultural tourism sector is rapidly evolving into a new consumer trend, thanks to its unique appeal and strong market penetration. In recent years, China has introduced a series of policies to support the development of low-altitude tourism, exploring a comprehensive industry value chain driven by aerial tourism and extended through integrated offerings in accommodations, dining, cultural experiences, and entertainment.

Urban transportation

An "air taxi" drew public attention recently at the Luogang Low-Altitude Traffic Operation Center in Hefei, Anhui Province. This "air taxi" is an electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft. The aircraft is compact, agile, and capable of easy takeoff and landing. The "air taxi" provider has actively pursued Chinese and international IP strategies around this aircraft, and one of its related patents was awarded the Guangdong Provincial Patent Award in 2019.

In recent years, empowered by cutting-edge technologies such as electrification and intelligent systems, the low-altitude intelligent transportation sector has given rise to a number of leading companies such as EHang and XPeng AeroHT. Strong IP protection policies and operational frameworks are playing a key role in fostering collaboration across the entire low-altitude transport value chain. These measures help accelerate the commercialization of technological achievements and support companies in overcoming challenges in flight control, battery endurance, and vertical mobility, ultimately enhancing the companies' competitiveness in the global market.

Emergency response

Currently, low-altitude aerial vehicles represented by drones are increasingly utilized in fire and rescue operations due to their advantages in rapid response, strong maneuverability, and minimal impact from ground obstacles. For example, 18 drone airports have been established in Changsha, Hunan Province, to cover residential areas and densely populated locations. These facilities can maintain 24-hour standby status and reach incident sites within a 5-kilometer radius in just 4 minutes, providing support for urban fire inspections and emergency response.

In the long term, the development of the low-altitude economy is redefining the boundaries of speed, precision, and safety in firefighting and rescue services. With the further integration of 5G, artificial intelligence, and advanced aircraft technologies, the sector is set to undergo a shift toward integrated air-ground operations, paving the way for a more efficient, intelligent, and user-centered emergency response system.