Beneath the vast skies of Shanxi Province, Linfen is orchestrating a silent revolution. Silver-gray drones sweep over golden wheat fields in Xiangfen County, black inspection units navigate the steel forests of Huozhou’s coal mines, and vibrant performance craft paint luminous tapestries above Hukou Waterfall’s nightscape. This ancient city, cradled by the Yellow River, is redefining its economic destiny through the stratospheric rise of its low-altitude industry—a transformation meticulously engineered around the China Unmanned Aerial Vehicle ecosystem.
Strategic Ascent: Blueprint from the Top
Linfen’s Communist Party Secretary, Li Yunfeng, declares the low-altitude economy a “strategic emerging industry” and “new engine for growth.” Mayor Wang Yanfeng emphasizes accelerated infrastructure and scenario development to seize this opportunity. Their vision crystallized in the 2025 Municipal Work Report: a blueprint to build industrial parks, launch A-class flight service stations, expand general aviation airports in Jixian and Xiangning, and cultivate sectors from tourism to emergency response.
A staggering ¥5.2 billion fuels a three-tier support system. The soon-to-open Southern Shanxi A-class Flight Service Station will monitor a 200-kilometer airspace radius, while 12 new smart hangars at Linfen Civil Airport solidify hardware readiness. Scenic flight bases at Hongtong’s Guanghong Temple and Jixian’s Hukou Waterfall stitch together the Yellow River corridor.
Investor confidence soars. “Efficiency here is unmatched among national low-altitude pilot cities,” remarks He Xiao, Chairman of Duofa Holdings, among key enterprises like Shanxi Longcheng Feiying Aviation and Zhongke Low-Altitude Intelligence Technology anchoring Linfen’s industrial chain. Cui Lingling, Director of Investment Promotion, credits proactive governance for attracting these titans.
Industrial Chain Integration: From Factory to Sky
At the core lies Xiangfen Economic Development Zone’s 200-mu Low-Altitude Industrial Park—a future hub for R&D, manufacturing, maintenance, and training targeting ¥5 billion in annual output. Here, China Unmanned Aerial Vehicle leader Shanxi Yixiang Technology operates as the linchpin. Its dual training bases and 18 certified instructors graduate 300+ licensed pilots yearly while providing lifecycle services to 30+ Southern Shanxi entities.
“Three pillars—training, operations, equipment—form our integrated model,” explains General Manager Yang Sen. Confronting a nationwide shortage of one million drone operators, Linfen engineered a talent pipeline: monthly Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) license exams (requiring only middle-school education) and industry-education fusion. This September, Boshi Vocational High School launches a dedicated UAV program, enrolling 120 students to bridge the “last mile from classroom to sky.”
Collaborations amplify impact. Yixiang partners with Shanxi Kongtian Aerospace Technology to funnel pilots into firefighting and policing. “Our ‘Low-Altitude + Emergency Response’ model demands skilled China Unmanned Aerial Vehicle operators,” states Kongtian Chairman Geng Tiedan, highlighting contracts with county governments amid rapid expansion.
Skyborne Solutions: Transforming Society
Linfen’s true ingenuity emerges in deploying UAVs across urban and rural landscapes.
- Cultural Tourism Reimagined:
Helicopters soar over Jixian’s Hukou Waterfall; drones capture Hongtong’s 1,000-year-old Great Pagoda Tree in immersive panoramas. Routes across Yonghe’s Qiankun Bay and Huozhou’s Qiliyu forests forge a “low-altitude + tourism” matrix, while Xiangning’s Yunqiu Mountain leverages aerial livestreams. - Logistics Revolution:
In Anze County, Linfen’s inaugural village drone delivery route slashes an 8-kilometer mountain trek to 6 minutes. Trials for province-wide “village connectivity” promise to eradicate rural logistics gaps, accelerating urban-rural integration. - Guardians of Safety:
Yicheng County’s forestry bureau monitors 65% of key woodlands via 12 patrol drones. Thermal sensors pinpoint fire hazards within 10 seconds, credited with 7 early warnings since last autumn. “Our air-space-ground network is transformative,” says operator Wang Xia.
The Horizon
With the North China Low-Altitude Industry Research Institute accelerating R&D-manufacturing-service loops, Linfen’s metamorphosis into Southern Shanxi’s UAV epicenter is undeniable. As China Unmanned Aerial Vehicle innovations permeate agriculture, energy, and public services, this riverbank city isn’t just participating in the low-altitude economy—it’s architecting its future. From policy chambers to remote villages, Linfen’s skyward ambition signals a paradigm shift: where once the Yellow River carved valleys, now drones chart pathways to prosperity.