In Chengdu, a pivotal hub for the development of Southwest China's low-altitude economy, tourists now have the unique opportunity to soar over the city on tourism planes, while unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) helps improve hospital services in rural areas.
Chengdu's Chongzhou has become a hotspot for aviation enthusiasts amid the region's flourishing low-altitude industry. The Haoyun General Aviation Aerodrome, the largest aviation sports base in Southwest China, offers a wide range of activities, including skydiving, UAV training, and scenic flights in small planes, all under the guidance of experienced instructors.
In 2024, over 100,000 tourist visits were recorded at the aerodrome, with 30,000 of those involving flight experiences. With less than 400 yuan (approximately 55 U.S. dollars), tourists can take to the skies for a ten-minute flight, typically on weekends or holidays.
Official data showed that Chengdu is home to more than 500 aerospace enterprises, with the city's aerospace industry now valued at over 150 billion yuan (about 20.6 billion U.S. dollars).
"The Chongzhou Municipal People's Government, the Chengdu Municipal People's Government, and the People's Government of Sichuan have been incredibly supportive. They have helped us expand nearby roads and provided significant guidance and support for enhancing the equipment and facilities at our aerodrome," said Lu Tao, general manager of Sichuan Haoyun General Aviation Company.
In the realm of hospital services, medical staff in rural Shanquan Township previously took an entire day to transport test materials to Longquanyi No.1 hospital in Chengdu's Longquanyi District. However, the collaboration between local authorities and a tech company from Hangzhou has revolutionized the process. Now, UAVs can complete the journey with less than 15 minutes, flying daily between the two hospitals. The UAV departs Chengdu at 10:00, returning with the materials by 11:00, allowing doctors to quickly share test results online.
"Thanks to the UAV service, we can now conduct tests on the same day the materials are collected. The transport time is just around 11 minutes," said Yan Ciling, director of Shanquan Township Hospital.
In February, the Chengdu Municipal People's Government signed nearly 50 key projects in the low-altitude economy and commercial space sectors, further solidifying the city's role as a leader in these rapidly growing industries.
Chengdu's low-altitude aviation sector boosts tourism, helps improve hospital services
