The low-altitude economy uses airspace below 3,000 meters for business activities. It includes drones and electric air taxis called eVTOLs, which take off and land vertically like helicopters. This field is growing fast in China. In cities like Shenzhen, drones deliver over 15,000 food packages daily, cutting costs by 40% compared to trucks. Farmers in Sichuan use drones to check crops, saving weeks of work in the fields.
Two major events this month show its progress. In Shanghai, the International Low-altitude Economy Expo opens on July 23. Nearly 300 companies will display new technologies. For example, DJI’s unmanned drone stations can inspect power lines automatically, acting as “eyes in the sky” for city management. Another company, Tengden, will show drones that provide emergency communication during disasters, creating a lifeline when ground networks fail. Visitors can try VR simulators to fly drones and watch eVTOLs carry people like flying taxis. The expo even includes night drone light shows over the Huangpu River, mixing technology with art.
Meanwhile, Xi’an hosts the World Drone Conference from July 25. Universities there will reveal breakthroughs like quantum navigation systems—tools that guide drones with extreme accuracy using advanced physics. At the expo, companies like Zhongke Ferno will perform dances with 100 drones flying in perfect sync, like a ballet in the sky. Other drones can find hidden dangers in power lines using special cameras, preventing blackouts in mountain areas.
Governments strongly support this growth. Xi’an has built 12 test flight routes and set up a 2-billion-yuan fund for new ideas. Training centers teach villagers to operate farming drones—many farmers in Gansu Province have learned these skills, increasing crop harvests by 20%. Shanghai’s expo also offers job fairs, inviting students to join this field as engineers or pilots.
Soon, low-altitude technology may be everywhere. By 2027, tourists in Hainan could ride flying taxis between beaches. High school students in Guangzhou join drone design contests, and geography classes use them to map rivers. As costs drop, ordering a flying taxi might become as easy as booking a car ride today.
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