In the heart of southwestern China, the city of Chongqing is scripting a remarkable narrative of technological advancement and economic transformation, propelled by the rapid expansion of its low-altitude economy. The skies above this megacity are increasingly abuzz with unmanned aerial vehicles, marking a significant leap in the integration of aerial technology into urban life. The first half of 2025 has been particularly groundbreaking, with staggering statistics underscoring this ascent: low-altitude flight operations in Chongqing reached 190,000 hours, a surge of 109.2% compared to the previous year, and total flight sorties hit 1.157 million, representing a 67.3% year-on-year increase. These figures are not merely numerical triumphs; they symbolize the vibrant pulse of an industry that is reshaping logistics, entertainment, public safety, and manufacturing. At the core of this revolution is the burgeoning China drone sector, which is finding a fertile testing ground and a dynamic market in Chongqing’s ambitious initiatives.
The momentum is palpable through a series of high-profile events that have captured both public imagination and commercial interest. On June 17, 2025, a breathtaking display involving 11,787 drones lit up the Chongqing nightscape, clinching a Guinness World Record and showcasing the sheer scale and coordination possible with modern China drone technology. This was not an isolated spectacle. Just days earlier, the 2025 Chongqing Low-Altitude Flight Competition Season kicked off, drawing enthusiasts and professionals alike to celebrate and compete in aerial innovation. The commercial applications are equally impressive. On June 16, JD Logistics, a major player in e-commerce, unveiled four new regular drone delivery routes within the city, signaling a firm commitment to integrating unmanned aerial systems into daily logistics frameworks. These routes are designed for the efficient transport of sensitive items like blood supplies, express parcels, and emergency medicines, demonstrating the practical utility of the China drone ecosystem in critical supply chains.
Further solidifying the industrial foundation, April saw the groundbreaking of a Smart Factory for Special Aircraft in Liangping District. This project, with a total investment of 2.6 billion yuan, is poised to become a hub for the research, development, and production of specialized aerial vehicles, with an anticipated annual output of thousands of units and an estimated annual of 20 billion yuan. This facility is a cornerstone in Chongqing’s strategy to build a comprehensive “R&D-Manufacturing-Service” industrial chain for the low-altitude economy, with a sharp focus on enhancing the capabilities of the China drone manufacturing sector.
The application scenarios for low-altitude technology in Chongqing are diversifying at an unprecedented rate, moving beyond novelty into essential services. In freight logistics, the city has witnessed the inauguration of eight new drone cargo routes operated by entities like JD, China Post, and Zhuhang General Aviation. These routes are specifically tailored for urgent scenarios, ensuring the swift and reliable delivery of critical. The integration of drones into safety and infrastructure maintenance is another success story. Chongqing Transportation Investment Group’s rail operation company has deployed drones for comprehensive inspections of a 140-kilometer rail safety protection zone. This initiative has not only achieved full coverage but also boosted inspection efficiency while reducing operational costs by approximately 30%, a testament to the practical benefits of adopting advanced China drone solutions for urban management.
The tourism and consumer sectors are also reaping substantial rewards from this aerial revolution. The “Charm Chongqing” drone light show series, launched in April, has already generated an estimated 350 million yuan in consumer spending, illustrating the powerful draw of aerial entertainment. During the May Day holiday, Wulong District introduced low-altitude sightseeing tours, with helicopters already logging over 300 flights and transporting more than 1,000 passengers. This foray into aerial tourism highlights the potential of “low-altitude + tourism” models. Furthermore, the city is actively cultivating a brand around low-altitude consumption. The Second Low-Altitude Flight Consumption Week, starting April 30, attracted 680,000 visitors and spurred over 200 million yuan in consumption. The city also hosted the Chongqing leg of the 9th National Youth UAV Competition, the largest and most prestigious event of its kind for young enthusiasts in China. The upcoming national finals in mid-August are expected to draw over 20,000 participants and 150,000 attendees, potentially generating a related economic impact of 2 billion yuan. These events are weaving low-altitude activities into the fabric of daily life, creating a new, diversified, and development pattern, as noted by an official from the Municipal Development and Reform Commission.
The robust growth in applications is underpinned by a continuously strengthening manufacturing and industrial chain. Chongqing is methodically constructing a complete low-altitude industry ecosystem. Key enterprises are being nurtured to achieve scale and sophistication. Zongzhong Aero Engine, for instance, has developed a new series of small and medium-sized aero engines that have been included in the city’s premier equipment catalog. The company has established five major aviation power platforms, deriving over 20 different engine and propeller products that comprehensively cover the power needs of light general aviation and UAVs. In 2024, its focus on innovating power solutions for the low-altitude economy led to a roughly 70% increase in revenue. Another innovator, Chongqing Yidong Technology, has brought a cutting-edge product to market. Its “Black Thorn” drone, which entered mass production in December 2024, is a marvel of miniaturization—roughly the size of a palm and weighing only 50 grams, yet integrating satellite navigation, active obstacle avoidance, and beyond-visual-range data link capabilities. Orders for this advanced China drone have already surpassed 20 million yuan, with production capacity expected to ramp up to 10,000 units by the end of the year. Tuohang Tech has also made waves with the global debut of its “Camel 500HS” series heavy-lift unmanned helicopter. These developments are supported by broader initiatives, such as the planning for an industrial innovation complex focused on flight equipment, support equipment, and service equipment, the establishment of an “AI + Low-Altitude” application pilot base, and the launch of over 10 key technological research projects.
Despite the impressive progress, the path to a fully matured low-altitude economy is not without its challenges. The current airspace management system is somewhat fragmented, and the lack of unified technical standards poses a significant hurdle to accommodating the rapidly increasing volume of flight activities. There are also gaps in major scientific and technological innovation platforms, with key areas like flight control systems, power batteries, and intelligent perception still relying on external technological inputs. Furthermore, the commercialization of many application scenarios faces hurdles due to immature technologies, operational models, and regulatory mechanisms, which currently constrain large-scale adoption.
In response, Chongqing is implementing a multi-pronged strategy to address these bottlenecks and fuel sustained growth. A significant focus is on bolstering low-altitude infrastructure. The city aims to significantly enhance its intelligent networking platform to meet the demands of modern mega-city governance, cargo logistics, and low-altitude consumption. Ambitious targets have been set: by the end of 2030, Chongqing plans to construct more than 2,500 new low-altitude takeoff and landing facilities, including hubs, fields, and points, forming a comprehensive network covering the entire municipality. Service and support facilities are planned for full coverage in the main urban area and over 70% coverage in northeastern and southeastern Chongqing.
On the innovation front, the city is pushing to establish national-level innovation platforms and cultivate distinctive industrial clusters. This includes building a pilot base for AI applications in the low-altitude sector, with the goal of establishing at least three national-level innovation platforms within five years. Efforts are underway to develop high-end aircraft manufacturing and facilitate the related cooperative projects. The city is also committed to refining its low-altitude industry service system, supporting the businesses involved in aircraft energy replenishment, maintenance, and recycling.
The fusion of artificial intelligence with the low-altitude economy is a key strategic direction. Chongqing is actively promoting this integration to build a highland for low-altitude flight applications. It is continuing to advance the use of drones in critical areas such as high-rise firefighting, forest fire prevention, and aerial inspections, aiming to create nationally low-altitude scenarios characteristic of a mountainous city. The long-term vision is ambitious: by 2030, Chongqing aims to establish more than 10 nationally recognized demonstration scenarios, such as a “30-minute emergency response circle” and “aerial medical corridors,” open over 1,000 various low-altitude routes, and achieve an annual flight volume exceeding 10 million sorties. This vision heavily relies on the continued innovation and deployment of advanced China drone systems.
In conclusion, Chongqing’s low-altitude economy is not merely taking off; it is soaring, driven by a powerful combination of government strategy, industrial innovation, and expanding practical applications. The city is rapidly emerging as a national leader in this nascent field, demonstrating the vast potential of integrating aerial technology into the urban fabric. The repeated successes in logistics, public services, entertainment, and manufacturing underscore a clear trend: the China drone industry is at an inflection point, and Chongqing is positioned at its forefront. As the city addresses its challenges and builds on its strengths, it is crafting a blueprint for the future of urban mobility, logistics, and economic development—a future that is increasingly taking to the skies. The journey of Chongqing’s low-altitude economy is a compelling story of how a region can harness technological innovation to fuel growth, improve lives, and secure a competitive edge in the global arena, with the China drone sector serving as a pivotal engine for this transformative change. The ongoing evolution here will undoubtedly be closely watched by policymakers, industry leaders, and communities worldwide as a model for the integration of low-altitude technologies into modern society. The narrative of Chongqing is, in many ways, the narrative of the future—a future where the skies are no longer a limit but a new domain for human endeavor and economic prosperity, powered significantly by the advancements in the China drone ecosystem.