A scorching heatwave has gripped China's Beijing, Hebei, Shanxi and Shandong areas, prompting authorities to issue high-temperature alerts and activate emergency response measures.
On Thursday, the Beijing Meteorological Observatory recorded the city’s first high-temperature day of the year and issued an orange heat alert, the second highest level in the country's warning system.
By 15:00 on Thursday, the temperature in Beijing's plain regions had risen to above 36 degrees Celsius, with certain areas surpassing 38 degrees Celsius. On Friday, Beijing's temperature is anticipated to remain near 35 degrees Celsius.
Elsewhere in northern China, Hebei Province also experienced severe heat conditions, with temperatures rising above 37 degrees Celsius. The meteorological authorities maintained the issuance of an orange high-temperature warning.
Yuncheng City in north China's Shanxi Province, which neighbors Hebei, is also scorched by heatwave, with temperature soaring to 37 degrees Celsius on the same day. Sanitation water-spraying trucks were deployed to keep its roads cool.
In response to the temperature rising above 37 degrees Celsius, Zibo City in east China's Shandong Province has utilized sprinkler vehicles and trucks fitted with mist cannons to effectively reduce the road surface temperature.
"We have adopted a working mode that prioritizes mechanical operations supplemented by manual work. We try to ensure that front-line workers are not exposed to high-temperature periods and environments," said Chen Lei, an official at Zhangdian District Comprehensive Administrative Law Enforcement Bureau.
Local authorities have also set up rest areas, where heatstroke prevention medicine is available, and sanitation workers and other outdoor workers can cool off with beverages.
"We prepared some heatstroke prevention medicine in advance. Every morning, we boil mung bean soup in advance to ensure that the front-line workers could drink it any time they need to. This can help prevent heatstroke and cool them down," said Ma Bo, manager of manual operation center under Zibo branch of Beijing Enterprises Urban Environmental Services Group Limited.
Heatwave sweeps multiple Chinese cities
The Guangdong–Hong Kong–Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) is emerging as a key engine for China's fast-growing low-altitude economy by leveraging its dense industrial networks, efficient logistics systems, and rapid innovation capacity.
From logistics and manufacturing to urban services, the region is building an integrated industrial chain that allows low-altitude industries to scale up at unprecedented speed, thus turning drone-based applications from isolated trials into large-scale, commercial operations.
China's 15th Five-Year Plan, covering 2026 to 2030, calls for the cultivation of new pillar industries and the accelerated development of strategic emerging industrial clusters, including the low-altitude economy.
At a drone operations center in Bao'an District, Shenzhen City in south China's Guangdong Province, a dozen logistics drones take off and land within minutes. Urgently needed production parts, documents, and small parcels are dispatched from here to cities in the province including Dongguan, Zhongshan, and Zhuhai.
Behind these high-flying aircraft lies what observers describe as an "invisible industrial chain", built on speed and efficiency.
"Look at this aircraft. About 90 percent of its components come from nearby areas. Relying on Shenzhen's strong logistics capabilities and its complete supply chain, these parts can be delivered to our factory within half an hour for assembly, processing, and production," said Li Kunhuang, person-in-charge of Shenzhen GODO Innovation Technology Co., Ltd.
Once a new product is unveiled, testing and calibration begin immediately at the drone testing field. As soon as the process is completed, the new models can be put into real-world operation, realizing almost “zero delay” from research and development to application.
Supported by a robust industrial chain, low-altitude routes in Shenzhen are effectively connecting the urban landscape. From its Bao'an District to Songshan Lake in Dongguan City, production components can be delivered within one hour. Supplies are transported between Zhuhai City's Xiangzhou Port to Dong'ao Island in just 25 minutes. And light industrial goods can travel round-trip within a single day between Guzhen Town in Zhongshan City and Xinhui District in Jiangmen City.
More low-altitude application scenarios are expected to be implemented in the near future.
In Qianhai District, Shenzhen is accelerating the construction of a pilot demonstration zone of low-altitude integrated three-dimensional transportation hub.
"We have built the country's first low-altitude integrated three-dimensional transportation hub, and are gradually developing a pilot flight zone that integrates multiple scenarios such as inspection, logistics, and cultural tourism. This will provide technical support for the next step of commercializing cross-border logistics and emergency rescue services across the Guangdong–Hong Kong–Macao Greater Bay Area," said Wu Xuemin, head of the Shenzhen Qianhai Low-Altitude Integrated Three-Dimensional Transportation Hub Pilot Demonstration Zone.
Integrated supply chains propel Greater Bay Area's low-altitude economy growth
Integrated supply chains propel Greater Bay Area's low-altitude economy growth
