From dazzling aerial light shows to life-saving emergency responses, south China's economic powerhouse Guangdong Province is rapidly advancing its low-altitude economy by integrating drones and next-generation aerial vehicles into everyday urban and industrial life.
Recently, a Shenzhen-based drone company illuminated the night sky over central China's Liuyang City with a synchronized "tech fireworks show". Thousands of drones formed shimmering constellations alongside traditional pyrotechnics, captivating thousands on the ground.
A similar drone-powered display has also lit up skies over the city of Shenzhen.
But Guangdong's ambitions for low-altitude airspace extend far beyond entertainment.
In Shenzhen, some traffic light poles have been retrofitted as drone launch and landing pads. Dubbed "aerial sentinels", drones autonomously patrol major roadways daily, transmitting real-time traffic data to city management centers.
During high-rise fire drills, specialized firefighting drones take to the skies to conduct reconnaissance, break windows, and deliver extinguishing agents, often arriving before ground crews.
The applications have been expanded across various sectors: urban management, logistics, emergency response and maritime patrol.
In late July, a groundbreaking 80-kilometer intercity low-altitude logistics route between Guangzhou and Zhuhai successfully completed its maiden flight, marking a major step toward commercializing long-distance low-altitude cargo transport.
"This route connects core cities in the 'Golden Inner Bay' -- areas around the Pearl River Estuary. By unlocking the longest segments of this corridor, we've significantly expanded the commercial possibilities," said Zhu Qizheng, general manager of the Wanyi Tianxia (Zhuhai) Aviation Company.
At Guangzhou's Huangpu Free Trade Zone, drones are already ferrying packages directly from factory rooftops to customs inspection areas within minutes, with customs data transmitted automatically during flight.
"To us, it's not just about physical movement of vehicles and goods, but also about synchronizing data flows with real-world logistics. These trials are laying the groundwork for international drone cargo operations," said Lin Canbin, an official with the customs department of Huangpu District of Guangzhou City.
To date, Guangdong has launched over 700 drone routes, serving diverse needs from crop spraying to offshore inspections, public security, and emergency medical supply delivery.
Meanwhile, the future of urban air mobility is taking shape.
The Guangzhou-based EHang Intelligent Technology has secured the world's first trio of regulatory certifications for a passenger-carrying autonomous aerial vehicle: type certificate, production certificate, and airworthiness certificate
The company recently unveiled a new eVTOL (electric Vertical Takeoff and Landing aircraft) model with extended range and greater payload capacity.
HuiTian Aerospace Technology, another company from Guangzhou, inaugurated its dedicated eVTOL manufacturing facility in September, signaling its readiness for mass production and commercial deployment.
During the torch relay for the 15th National Games, jointly held by Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao, a torchbearer made history on Sunday by completing a leg of the relay aboard a low-altitude flying vehicle.
This symbolizes how Guangdong's sky-high ambitions are no longer confined to blueprints, but are becoming a reality in everyday life.
Guangdong boosts low-altitude economy by expanding drone uses
