At the end of December 2025, the Chinese mainland released recommendations for its 15th Five-Year Plan (2026–2030), and one sector that’s getting a major spotlight is the low-altitude economy. 🚁
Termed the low-altitude economy, this market covers cargo drones, aerial tourism, precision agriculture, emergency services and urban air mobility. Xie Wentao, chief technology expert at Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC), explains that boosting innovation in airborne systems and forging integrated industrial chains are key to turning these futuristic ideas into everyday reality.
The new plan zeroes in on three strategic drivers: cutting-edge science and technology, ecological civilization, and ecosystem conservation. 🌱📡 By combining high-tech R&D with green practices, the Chinese mainland aims to build a sustainable aerial ecosystem that benefits both businesses and the environment.
For young professionals and entrepreneurs, the low-altitude economy is opening fresh opportunities in drone manufacturing, airspace management software, and eco-friendly battery technology. Meanwhile, travelers and explorers can look forward to unique sky-high experiences—think aerial hot springs tours or drone-delivered snacks on a mountain trail!
Rollout will begin in 2026, with pilot zones in major cities and rural hubs. By 2030, experts predict the low-altitude economy could contribute billions of dollars and create hundreds of thousands of jobs. It's like bringing sci-fi into real life: sleek air taxis cruising above urban skylines and drones turning every corner into a delivery hub. 🚀
As 2025 wraps up, keep your eyes on the sky—in the years ahead, the Chinese mainland’s low-altitude economy is ready to take off! ✈️
Reference(s):
China's low-altitude economy gets a strategic boost under new FYP
cgtn.com
