China’s BeiDou navigation system achieves breakthroughs, in-depth applications in various sectors

China's BeiDou satellite navigation system has achieved major breakthroughs and in-depth applications across a wide of range of sectors, significantly boosting production efficiency.

China's satellite navigation and positioning services industry, centered on the BeiDou navigation system, registered a 7.39 percent year-on-year growth to reach 575.8 billion yuan (about 80 billion U.S. dollars) in its total output value in 2024, according to a white paper released on Sunday.

The white paper released by the Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) and Location Based Services (LBS) Association of China reported that by the end of 2024, the total number of satellite navigation patent applications in China surpassed 129,000, maintaining the country's global leading momentum in this field.

The white paper showed that over 410 million satellite navigation terminals were sold in China in 2024, including 294 million BeiDou-enabled smartphones. Sales of other positioning terminal devices and systems, including the Internet of Things, wearables, vehicles, and high-precision applications, exceeded 120 million sets.

With the continuous growth of satellite navigation equipment sales, many Chinese navigation map suppliers have officially switched to prioritizing BeiDou positioning.

"Eleven major digital mapping service providers in China deliver more than one trillion location services and guide four billion kilometers of automobile running per day. The high-precision lane-level navigation of BeiDou has basically covered all urban and township roads across the country," said Liu Dake, vice president of the GNSS and LBS Association of China.

BeiDou has also achieved significant breakthroughs across a wide of range of sectors including transportation, power and mass consumption, significantly enhancing the capability level of high-precision positioning services, according to the white paper.

In transportation, over 13.5 million BeiDou-enabled devices were used in road transport, postal and express delivery automobiles and rail systems by the end of 2024. Meanwhile, at ports, autonomous trucks using BeiDou navigation system enhanced operational efficiency by 25 percent.

In the energy sector, over 500,000 BeiDou-supported devices are adopted, providing reliable and precise high-precision location services for inspection equipment, which has significantly enhanced the efficiency of electricity transmission and hazard identification, according to the white paper.

The agricultural machinery equipped with the BeiDou navigation system has also helped farmers improve efficiency and promoted smart planting across the country.

In Nanniwan, a high-quality rice production base in Yan'an City, northwest China's Shaanxi Province, BeiDou-supported unmanned transplanters have been put into use for the first time this summer.

Compared with traditional ones, these unmanned transplanters can not only control the distance between plants within centimeters, but also reduce the number of manpower from some five persons to just one.

The Nanniwan base also adopted drone fertilization during this year's cultivation season, comprehensively enhancing the farming efficiency.

"It used to take three to five workers three to five days to fertilize the field. With drones, the operation can be completed in just one morning, greatly improving the utilization rate of the fertilizer," said Xian Lei, a technician at the base.

In addition to domestic applications, the overseas market of BeiDou navigation system has also continued to expand.

As a core supplier of global satellite navigation systems recognized by the United Nations, BeiDou has joined the standard systems of 11 international organizations in the areas of civil aviation, maritime affairs and mobile communications. More than 30 African countries including Nigeria, Tunisia and Senegal have built BeiDou Continuously Operating Reference Stations.

The market size of China's low altitude economy has so far exceeded 500 billion yuan, and is expected to reach two trillion yuan by 2030. The BeiDou navigation system will be integrated with cutting-edge technologies such as 5G communication and artificial intelligence for more efficient utilization in the years to come.

China’s BeiDou navigation system achieves breakthroughs, in-depth applications in various sectors

A special movie-themed flight campaign lifted off with Xiamen Airlines on Tuesday, blending film culture with tourism promotion to deliver a unique in-flight experience for passengers ahead of China's upcoming May Day holiday.

The campaign took off aboard a plane operated by Xiamen Airlines, which are based in east China's Fujian Province, bringing the magic of the big screen to the small screens on passengers' seats.

The aircraft's cabin has been adorned with film-themed posters and exclusive decorations, with brochures introducing the featured film content placed in seat pockets.

During the flight, the crew also hosted an interactive question-and-answer session, where they promoted some of the top films scheduled for release during the five-day May Day holiday which begins on Friday.

They also shared insights into the featured films, including the cultural and tourism resources of their shooting locations, giving passengers inside cinematic info and essential travel tips during their trip.

The immersive themed experience resonated well with passengers on the flight, who say they are now eager to check out some of the latest film releases.

"There are eight films recommended here, and I'm going to watch them when I get back. I'm keen to see Cold War 1994, because I'm a big fan of Aaron Kwok and the other cast members. I have been following the film all along," said Wang Jianghai, a passenger on the flight, as he expressed his interest in the upcoming crime thriller set in Hong Kong.

The flight attendants involved say they enjoyed having their role extend beyond the standard service duties during this particular plane ride, as they led passengers on this cinematic voyage.

"Today, we are more than just flight attendants. We are more like guides for this movie-themed journey. At 10,000 meters in the air, we get to plant a seed in our passengers' hearts that will make them want to take a trip or go watch that film. We want this to be the start of a beautiful memory for them," said Zhu Yanyan, the flight's chief attendant.

The launch of the themed flight comes as China braces for a surge in travel and cultural consumption during the May Day holiday. By integrating cinematic content with air travel scenarios, the campaign seeks to build a seamless link between the film and cultural tourism sectors, unlocking new growth momentum for both industries.

Movie-themed flight takes off in Fujian, integrating film culture with tourism