Integrated supply chains propel Greater Bay Area's low-altitude economy growth

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

Integrated supply chains propel Greater Bay Area's low-altitude economy growth

Integrated supply chains propel Greater Bay Area's low-altitude economy growth

The World Young Scientist Summit opened on Saturday in Wenzhou, east China's Zhejiang Province, gathering more than 800 scientists and entrepreneurs from over 60 countries and regions.

The event also features an exhibition center outside the main conference venue, with innovative products designed for real-world applications drawing visitors from around the world.

Many are looking beyond the displays to explore potential partnerships, with innovations ranging from the recycling of valuable minerals from construction waste to artificial intelligence (AI) applications across industries.

"Our new approach to handling solid waste uses low-carbon, firing-free and low-temperature rapid-drying processes to turn various types of solid waste into industrial raw and auxiliary materials and recycled building materials," said Shao Zhang, vice president of the Wenzhou Hailuo Group.

"Because in Brazil, we don't have this kind of technology [of using] construction waste to build this. We have searched for new technology, and we are the representative association of engineers in Brazil. We came to China maybe to bring this technology to Brazil," said Leonardo Monteiro Rodrigues from the Brazilian Federation of Engineers.

Priyanga Talagala, a senior lecturer at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, highlighted the multilingual capability of an AI agent on display.

"It can understand many different languages. Actually, we are from Sri Lanka, and we tried with our own mother tongue, and she could understand our language very easily, even though it's not very common all around the world," she said.

A wheelchair caught the eyes of Ashutosh Tiwari, secretary general of the International Association of Advanced Materials, which is headquartered in Sweden. Tiwari said he had decided to introduce the product to the European market in cooperation with the Chinese exhibitor.

"So I've taken a picture of the company. And officially, our office will contact [them] to start the business in Sweden and Europe," he said.

New technologies draw global young scientists to Wenzhou