As dawn breaks, a drone silently ascends in the heart of the mountainous region of southern Anhui, landing precisely at a village express point. Villagers retrieve fresh tea leaves, still dewy, and happily exclaim, "It was on the branch yesterday, and now it can be shipped this morning." Meanwhile, at the smart air traffic operation center in Hefei's Luogang Park, points of light flicker on the big screen—another drone carrying medical samples navigates the "air corridor" between city buildings, heading to the testing center.

These flying vehicles soaring in Anhui's skies sketch a vivid trajectory of the booming low-altitude economy. In recent years, Anhui has designated the low-altitude economy as a strategic emerging industry for the province. The industry is experiencing explosive growth—over 300 enterprises in the low-altitude economic sector across the province, with the industry chain covering all aspects from R&D and design to production and operation services. In 2024, Anhui's low-altitude economy surpassed 55 billion yuan, ranking among the top in the country.

From Hefei's Luogang Park being awarded the world's first operational qualification certificate for unmanned passenger aircraft to Wuhu's aviation industrial park achieving autonomous manufacturing; from the first drone logistics flight in mountainous tea gardens to a rapid transport network for medical samples between cities, Anhui is taking flight on the new low-altitude economic track.

Wuhu Example: The Leap from "Manufacturing" to "Intelligent Manufacturing"

In the assembly workshop of the Wuhu aviation industrial park, workers are making final adjustments to a twin-engine light general-purpose aircraft. This aircraft, with completely independent intellectual property rights, has captured over 70% of the domestic market.

"At the Wuhu aviation industrial park, a complete general-purpose aircraft can be manufactured without leaving the park," the park's head explained. Nearly 200 industry chain enterprises have gathered here, forming a complete industrial chain covering new aviation materials, power systems, avionics, and aircraft manufacturing.

The core of the Wuhu example lies in the leap from components to complete machines, from manufacturing to intelligent manufacturing. Key components like Wuhu Diamond aircraft Aeroengine and Huaming Avionics System not only fill domestic gaps but are also exported to 74 countries and regions worldwide.

In terms of innovation-driven development, Wuhu has established a "one academician, one theme, one center" R&D system, with corporate R&D investment remaining above 10% for consecutive years. So far, enterprises in the park have cumulatively led the formulation of 540 national and industry standards, achieving breakthroughs in key areas such as aviation materials and power systems.

The four strategies of Wuhu's low-altitude economic pilot area are steadily advancing: creating a highly competitive low-altitude equipment manufacturing cluster; establishing an influential low-altitude scenario experimental base; constructing a low-altitude infrastructure network; and nurturing an industrial ecosystem and innovation culture.

Hefei Practice: Breaking Through from "Scenario" to "Ecosystem"

The smart air traffic operation center in Hefei's Luogang Park acts as the "smart brain" of the low-altitude economy. Here, applications like drone logistics delivery, aerial sightseeing, and emergency rescue are transitioning from blueprint to reality.

"We are building the digital foundation of the 'City in the Sky'," a technician at the operation center explained. "Through a comprehensive low-altitude flight service system, we can achieve precise management and service for various low-altitude aircraft."

The focus of Hefei's practice is to create an ecological system for the low-altitude economy. As one of the first low-altitude economic demonstration zones in the country, Hefei has opened 20 drone logistics routes, achieving an average daily delivery volume of over a thousand orders. In Luogang Park, visitors can experience drone sightseeing tours, gaining a new perspective of Hefei from the sky.

"Low-altitude + logistics," "low-altitude + tourism," "low-altitude + emergency"... Diverse application scenarios are rapidly taking root in Hefei. According to officials from the Hefei Development and Reform Commission, the city is accelerating the deep integration of the low-altitude economy with traditional industries, cultivating new business formats and models.

In terms of infrastructure construction, Hefei has established a low-altitude intelligent networking system, laying out over 40 takeoff and landing points and opening more than 50 routes. These infrastructures provide a solid foundation for the development of the low-altitude economy.

Provincial Collaboration: From "Single Point" to "All-domain" Leap

Anhui is using Hefei and Wuhu as dual cores to drive collaborative development in other cities, building a low-altitude economic development pattern with distinctive features and complementary advantages.

In Chuzhou, the drone manufacturing industry is rapidly emerging; in Anqing, general aviation operation services are steadily advancing; in Ma'anshan, low-altitude tourism projects are gaining popularity... Across the Jianghuai region, the low-altitude economy is transitioning from single-point breakthroughs to all-domain development.

Currently, Anhui has issued the "2025 Work Keypoints for Low-altitude Economic Development in the Province," clearly stating the plan to cultivate provincial-level low-altitude economic demonstration zones, accelerate the construction of general airports and low-altitude intelligent networking infrastructure, and orderly promote the development and application of low-altitude scenarios.

In terms of policy support, Anhui is coordinating resources to support the construction of pilot areas, accelerating the formation of an "equipment-scenario-ecology-service" full-chain innovation pattern. Cities are also formulating differentiated development strategies based on their unique characteristics.

"We are building a '1+N' policy system," said a relevant official from the Provincial Department of Economy and Information Technology. "We need both provincial coordination and local feature development to create a flourishing development landscape."

In terms of infrastructure connectivity, Anhui is accelerating the construction of a low-altitude flight service station network, planning to establish a low-altitude intelligent network covering the entire province by 2025. These initiatives will provide strong support for the development of the low-altitude economy.

From Wuhu’s "Anhui manufacturing" to Hefei’s "Anhui scenarios," and then to the province’s "Anhui ecology," Anhui's low-altitude economy is completing a historic leap from "catching up" to "running alongside" and then to "leading."

Anhui, a hub of Innovation, is using its "low-altitude wings" to take flight on the new journey of advancing Chinese path to modernization.

Source: anhuinews.com