On the banks of the Pearl River in Guangzhou, electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft carrying passengers successfully take off and land smoothly near the Suigang Wharf. At Shantou Central Hospital, emergency medical rescue drones can deliver thrombolytic drugs and emergency blood samples to remote township-level clinics in as little as 12 minutes. In recent years, Guangdong's low-altitude economy has flourished, with low-altitude applications evolving from experimental trials to everyday use.

Data shows that Guangdong is now home to over 30% of China's low-altitude economy industrial chain enterprises, totaling 15,000 companies. The province accounts for 95% of the national market share for consumer drones and 54% for industrial drones. In 2025, Guangdong's output of civilian drones exceeded 6.9 million units, ranking first nationwide. By 2026, the scale of Guangdong's low-altitude economy is expected to surpass 300 billion yuan.

The low-altitude economy is a prime example of the integration of manufacturing and service industries. Leveraging its strong scientific research capabilities and manufacturing foundation, Guangdong has improved infrastructure, industry standards, and regulations, while establishing R&D and talent platforms. These efforts are accelerating the formation of a complete industrial ecosystem, solidifying Guangdong's leading role in the low-altitude sector.

According to Zhu Wei, Deputy Director-General of the Guangdong Provincial Development and Reform Commission, the province has built 73 general aviation airports, over 3,500 low-altitude takeoff and landing points of various types, more than 66,000 5G-A base stations, and 236 integrated sensing and communication base stations. Guangdong has also developed a provincial-level comprehensive flight service station, enabling data integration and management, as well as device connectivity and coordination for its "digital low-altitude base".

In Guangdong, the low-altitude economy is diversifying from single-sector activities such as manufacturing or sightseeing to encompass multiple areas, ranging from everyday consumption and public services to industrial upgrading. 

Agricultural drones developed by Shenzhen DJI Innovations are now used in over 100 countries and regions, with an annual operational coverage of 3.3 billion mu (220 million hectares) in China alone in 2024. Their applications have expanded from initial crop protection to full-scenario use in agriculture, forestry, animal husbandry, and fisheries. Last November, Xpeng AeroHT rolled out the first prototype of its "Land Aircraft Carrier," a split-type flying car. By combining a ground mothership with an air module, it addresses storage, transport, and charging challenges, lowering the barrier to personal flight.

Zhu Wei stated that Guangdong will further integrate the low-altitude economy into its modern industrial system through infrastructure enhancements, industrial coordination, and diverse application scenarios, aiming to build a sustainable commercial application ecosystem.

Chen Zhijie, an academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering and an expert in air traffic management systems, said, "The innovative technological applications and management models in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, especially in Guangdong Province, offer valuable insights for building a nationwide low-altitude economy system."

广东让低空经济“飞”起来

在广州珠江畔，电动垂直起降航空器（eVTOL）搭载着乘客在穗港码头旁顺利起飞、平稳降落；在汕头市中心医院，应急救援无人机最快12分钟就能将溶栓药、急救血样送达偏远乡镇卫生院……近年来，广东低空经济蓬勃发展，“低空+”逐渐从“尝鲜式”应用走向“日常化”普及。

数据显示，广东已集聚全国30%以上低空经济产业链企业，达1.5万家；占据消费级无人机全国95%的市场份额、工业级无人机占54%。2025年，广东民用无人机产量超690万架，稳居全国第一。2026年，广东低空经济规模预计将超过3000亿元。

低空经济是制造业与服务业协同融合的典型场景。广东依托科研实力和制造业基础，夯实基础设施、规则标准等产业发展底座，打造研发和人才平台，推动产业完整生态加速形成，低空经济“领飞”态势不断巩固。

广东省发展和改革委员会副主任朱伟介绍，全省已建成通用机场73个、各类低空起降点超3500个、5G-A基站超6.6万个，通感一体基站236座；打造省低空飞行综合服务管理平台，实现“低空数字底座”的数据整合与管理、设备连接与协同等功能。

在广东，低空经济业态正从单一的制造或观光向多元化模式延伸，覆盖从日常消费、公共服务到产业升级的多个层面。

深圳市大疆创新科技有限公司的农业无人机已应用在100多个国家和地区，国内年作业量达33亿亩次，从最初的单一植保作业拓展到“农、林、牧、渔”全场景；去年11月，小鹏汇天试产下线了首台“陆地航母”分体式飞行汽车，通过汽车母舱与飞行器协同，解决个人飞行器在存储、运输、补能等方面的痛点，降低个人飞行门槛。

朱伟表示，下一步，广东将进一步促进低空经济融入现代化产业体系布局，完善基础设施；强化产业协同；拓展多元场景，推动形成可持续的商业应用闭环。

“粤港澳大湾区尤其是广东省的创新性技术应用和管理模式，对全国低空经济体系建设具有重要参考价值。”中国工程院院士、空中交通管理系统技术专家陈志杰表示。

文 |《瞭望》新闻周刊记者 陈凯星 王军伟 胡林果
翻译 | 魏薇
审校 | 曾敏