Top 10 Cities in China's Low-Altitude Manufacturing Industry and Their Core Features

I. Cities Leading in Comprehensive Competitiveness

1. Shenzhen

   • Boasts the world’s most mature drone industry chain, with 1,730 enterprises like DJI and Fengyi Technology covering R&D and manufacturing. Holds 70% and 50% of the global consumer and industrial drone markets, respectively.
   • Established China’s first low-altitude economy legislation system, with 207 drone routes and 249 takeoff/landing points. Plans to expand to 1,000 routes by 2025.
   • Aims to become the "Global No.1 Low-Altitude Economy City," with the highest GDP per unit area nationwide.

2. Beijing

   • Aggregates innovation resources, hosting 23 listed companies, 33 national-level specialized and sophisticated SMEs, and 132 high-tech enterprises (highest in China).
   • Leads in setting low-altitude technology standards and breakthroughs as a hub for industry-academia-research collaboration.
   • Leverages the strategic location of Daxing Airport to drive aviation manufacturing and testing industries.

3. Chengdu

   • Ranks top 3 in aviation manufacturing competitiveness, with over 220 upstream/downstream enterprises like AVIC UAV and Tengden Technology.
   • Built the largest low-altitude flight infrastructure network in western China, aiming to open 100+ routes and exceed 2.2 million annual flights by 2025.
   • Leads in large/medium UAV R&D, focusing on low-altitude logistics and urban management applications.

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II. Regional Industrial Cluster Hubs

4. Shanghai

   • A leader in eVTOL (Electric Vertical Take-Off and Landing), hosting 50% of China’s top companies like Autoflight and AeroHT.
   • Drives full-chain development via the Hongqiao International Low-Altitude Economy Industrial Park and East China UAV Base.

5. Guangzhou

   • XPeng AeroHT’s flying car completed urban low-altitude tests. Develops aviation equipment leveraging the Pearl River Delta’s manufacturing base.
   • Government promotes integrated low-altitude management platforms for logistics and tourism applications.

6. Zhuhai

   • Leverages the China Airshow to build a low-altitude economy industrial park, attracting global aviation manufacturers.
   • Established the Guangdong-Macau Low-Altitude Industry Alliance and testing/training bases.

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III. Cities with Niche Industry Breakthroughs

7. Suzhou

   • Core low-altitude manufacturing hub in the Yangtze River Delta, with 11 industrial parks (over half the region’s total).
   • Supports regional synergy by covering R&D, testing, and logistics.

8. Hefei

   • Focuses on UAV innovation in logistics and emergency rescue, with growing policy support.
   • Ranked among China’s top 10 low-altitude economy cities for competitiveness.

9. Nanjing

   • Key manufacturing node in the Yangtze River Delta, with the second-highest GDP per unit area among provincial capitals.
   • Accelerates low-altitude tech commercialization via policy incentives.

10. Xi’an

    • Western innovation hub, advancing UAV R&D and aerospace materials through academia.
    • Expands drones in agriculture/forestry for differentiated growth.

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Industrial Development Patterns

• Regional Collaboration: Three clusters—Yangtze Delta (Shanghai/Suzhou), Greater Bay Area (Shenzhen/Guangzhou/Zhuhai), and Western China (Chengdu/Xi’an)—focus on eVTOL, full drone chains, and niche applications.
• Policy-Driven: Shenzhen, Beijing, and Chengdu lead in legislation, airspace reform, and pilot policies.
• Technical Differentiation: Top cities prioritize integrated manufacturing, while others specialize in subfields (e.g., Hefei’s logistics drones, Xi’an’s agricultural UAVs).