During an interview on October 6, 2023, Hu Fengsheng from China News Service discussed the rising trend of “low-altitude + cultural tourism” projects that have gained popularity this National Day holiday.

As visitors buckle their seatbelts and don noise-canceling headphones, they ascend slowly aboard a helicopter, relishing the stunning aerial views of Taihu Lake. The helicopter base located in Wuxing District, Huzhou, Zhejiang Province, has experienced a notable increase in guests recently.

“The scenery around Taihu is breathtaking. Tourists on the helicopter are eagerly capturing this beautiful moment on their phones,” said Hong Baiyun, the head of the flight base. He pointed out that the area’s remarkable airspace resources and picturesque surroundings have created ideal conditions for the growth of low-altitude tourism. Many visitors come with their families to enjoy the experience. “Seeing the countryside from above in a helicopter is truly awe-inspiring,” remarked visitor Zhang Tong.

To cater to the varied flying and sightseeing preferences of tourists, the base has launched three distinctive ecological sightseeing routes: the Moon Bay Line, the Luogang Line, and the South Taihu Line.

At a paragliding base in Baofu Town, Anji, Zhejiang, Ms. Yang from Shanghai took a leap with her paraglider, soaring into the sky harnessing the wind. “It was such an exhilarating experience! I felt one with the wind as I gazed down at the beautiful landscapes, and I couldn’t have felt prouder!” she exclaimed after landing safely at the base.

In Haining, Zhejiang, the demand for aerial sightseeing is also on the rise. Just before the National Day holiday, the region launched its first low-altitude sightseeing tourism route. At 9:50 AM, a B-7508 helicopter took off from Hudu Village in Zhouwangmiao Town, offering passengers sweeping views of the expansive Qiantang River below.

Following the dyke line toward the east, the helicopter reached the prime viewing spot for the astronomical event known as the “one-line tide” at Yanguan Ancient Town and Zhan’ao Tower just three minutes later. “This was my first time on a helicopter, and it felt very stable. The Qiantang River looked magnificent,” said passenger Li Yiqi.

“From now on, tourists will be able to witness various forms of the Qiantang tidal waves from the helicopter,” announced Li Tian, head of the flight base and chairman of Zhejiang Yunyi Aviation Technology Co., Ltd. He mentioned plans to operate two helicopters regularly to meet tourists’ sightseeing demands. The company currently boasts over 60 aircraft, four take-off and landing sites, 11 airspaces, and 14 transition flight routes.

With the shift from a “niche experience” to “mass consumption,” how might City Fly revolutionize the tourism market to make it accessible to the general public? Dai Bin, director of the China Tourism Research Institute, remarked that the integration of cultural tourism and low-altitude experiences represents a significant convergence within the low-altitude economy. He referenced the Civil Aviation Administration of China’s recently published “14th Five-Year Plan for General Aviation Development,” which supports local governments in advancing low-altitude tourism, fostering innovation in aviation sports, encouraging private flights, and driving the growth of general aviation alongside tourism. This approach aims to fulfill varying demands for low-altitude experiences, create new attractions, stimulate consumption, and reshape the landscape.

According to estimates from China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, the low-altitude economy in China has exceeded 500 billion yuan (approximately 76 billion USD) as of 2023.

As the sector brims with potential, securing an early advantage has become crucial. Projects like Shenzhen’s pioneering cross-sea electric air taxi and Sichuan Chengdu’s interprovincial drone logistics have captured significant public interest.

In this competitive landscape, how should Zhejiang elevate its low-altitude economy? Wu Junyi, a senior engineer at the macroeconomic research institute of the Zhejiang Development Planning Research Institute, emphasized the need for practical applications in developing the low-altitude economy. “The government must provide high-quality services, open up more ‘low-altitude +’ application scenarios, and enable companies to test their products and technologies. With appropriate scenarios and market demand, more participants will engage in the low-altitude economy, thereby enhancing its growth.”