Nigeria Times

By Xia Kangjian, People’s Daily

As night falls, a deep-blue “eye” gazes into the distance. Located in the western part of the Rongdong district of Xiong’an New Area, north China’s Hebei province, the Xiong’an Urban Computing Center rests quietly. Resembling a human eye in its architectural design, it is locally known as the “Eye of Xiong’an.” 

Inside this “city brain,” servers glow with streams of blue light, supporting multidimensional computing for government services, urban planning, and ecological management. Large screens display a continuously evolving virtual city model on a digital operations platform.

“The Xiong’an Urban Computing Center adopts an integrated computing system that includes edge computing, cloud computing, supercomputing, and intelligent computing, providing computing, storage, and network services for big data, blockchain, and the Internet of Things across the city,” said Zhao Song, an engineer at the center.

When asked what practical benefits the center brings, Zhao replied, “There are quite a lot,” citing the Xiong’an Pass project as an example. Its systems are deployed at the Xiong’an Urban Computing Center, allowing residents to use a third-generation social security card — known as the Xiong’an Pass — to access services in government affairs, social security, healthcare, transportation, and daily consumption. To date, more than 810,000 such cards have been issued, with over 6 million uses recorded. 

“The computing center provides strong support for our operations,” said Zhang Xu, project manager of the Xiong’an Pass at China Xiong’an Group Digital City Company. 

During a government-led consumption promotion campaign, the mini-program of Xiong’an Pass experienced up to 40,000 concurrent connections at the moment vouchers were released, placing high demands on bandwidth and cloud resource responsiveness, Zhang noted.

With 50 petabytes of current storage capacity and a planned expansion to 1,000 petabytes, the facility prioritizes sustainability. Its design includes over 10,000 square meters of ultra-low energy consumption building space, setting national benchmarks for green infrastructure. Critically, all technologies — from chips and servers to cloud platforms and applications — are domestically developed.

All government service systems in Xiong’an New Area are hosted at the computing center. Enterprises such as China Satellite Network Group Co., Ltd., China Space-Time Information Co., Ltd., and China Xiong’an Group, along with research institutions including the Institute of Computing Technology of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and the Xiong’an Institute of Meteorological Artificial Intelligence, have also deployed their operations here. To date, the center has aggregated over 38 billion data entries and handled more than 400 million shared interface calls

As a “city of the future” entrusted with a mission of lasting national significance, Xiong’an integrates intelligence and innovation into its development, with the digital city and the physical city evolving in tandem.

In Xiong’an, even traffic lights can “think.” During morning rush hour in the Rongdong district, traffic signals adjust in real time based on traffic flow — an example of the city’s artificial intelligence-powered system and a vivid illustration of its digital twin model.

Underground utility tunnels also reflect this digital intelligence. “Through digital twin technology, sensor devices, and building information modeling, we monitor and provide early warnings for potential issues in water, electricity, gas, heating, and communication systems,” Zhao explained. In Xiong’an, every building, road, and pipeline has its own “digital ID.” “The digital city enables more precise and efficient urban governance,” Zhao added.

Xiong’an New Area has established a smart city standards system based on building information modeling and city information modeling platforms. It has built an independently innovative urban computing system featuring coordinated edge-cloud supercomputing integration, while achieving full coverage of IPv6, the HarmonyOS ecosystem, and sensing systems. Smart applications from government services and environmental protection to transportation and energy, are being rapidly implemented across the city.

By Sun Longfei, Li Anqi, People’s Daily

From above, the Central Green Valley in the start-up zone of Xiong’an New Area stretches across 500 hectares like a green artery, linking clusters of buildings into a cohesive whole.

“Five years ago, this was largely undeveloped land. Today, it is lush and green as far as the eye can see,” said Wu Fangfang, deputy general manager of Ecological Construction Company under China Xiong’an Group.

Stretching roughly 7 kilometers from north to south — connecting the northern forest belt to Baiyangdian Lake — and spanning roughly 3.2 kilometers east to west, the Central Green Valley forms the core ecological framework of the start-up zone. 

Its design features one corridor connecting functional zones, two valleys creating a harmonious blend of dense and open spaces that integrate the city with its waterways, three scenic lakes, and 18 distinctively designed parks catering to diverse recreational needs. 

Green development is the defining ecological feature of Xiong’an New Area. Since its establishment, the area has adhered to the principle of prioritizing ecological conservation and pursuing green development. Initiatives such as the “millennium forest project” and the environmental restoration of Baiyangdian Lake have laid the groundwork for an ecological foundation in which blue-green spaces will account for 70 percent of the total area.

The Daqing River forest area marked the starting point of the “millennium forest project”. Nearly nine years after the first sapling was planted, green space has steadily spread across the region, forming a dense ecological barrier — like an unfolding emerald necklace. 

Using a near-natural afforestation model that conbines mixed species, multi-layered structures, and trees of different ages, Xiong’an has completed afforestation on 32,200 hectares. The total forest area has reached 49,533 hectares, with forest coverage rising from 11 percent before the area’s establishment to 35.1 percent today.

Biodiversity metrics confirm ecological success: bird species have increased by 90 to 296 since 2025, including first-recorded Eastern Crowned Warblers and stable populations of globally endangered Baer’s Pochards. As environmental indicators, these species validate ecosystem recovery.

Balancing production, living, and ecological spaces to enhance urban livability is a key objective of China’s urban development. Livability means more than just adequate housing; it requires accessible, high-quality natural environments.

In Xiong’an New Area, residents enjoy green views from their windows and can reach a park within minutes of their homes. Covering 160 hectares, Yuerong Park embodies traditional Chinese aesthetics, unfolding along the south-north central axis of Xiong’an like a long, unfolding landscape painting.

“A well-designed park should feel integrated into the city and easily accessible,” said Zhang Liwei, chief engineer of Xiong’an Planning Institute, adding that “greening first, then building the city” is a guiding principle. From the outset, the ecological blueprint prioritized blue-green spaces. The locations of parks were determined first, with roads and land-use planned around them. At Central Green Valley Park, the boundaries blur seamlessly with urban roads, allowing free movement between spaces.

More than 20 urban parks have been planned and built across the start-up area and other key zones like the fifth cluster of the initial development area, Rongdong, Rongxi, Zangang, and Xiongdong, covering approximately 4,400 hectares in total. Xiong’an is demonstrating a new paradigm for urban development, placing nature at its core.

According to Zhang, residents can reach a woodland within three kilometers, a forest belt within one kilometer, and a community park within 300 meters — with recreational green spaces woven throughout the city.

Meanwhile, parks are being upgraded with increasingly versatile facilities, enriched cultural offerings, and people-centered design in every detail.

By continuously expanding and connecting blue and green spaces, nurturing harmony between people and nature, and integrating the new city closely with Baiyangdian Lake, the planners and builders of Xiong’an New Area are laying a vivid, green foundation for a modern city with ecological vision.

By Li Xiaoqing, People’s Daily

China is the world’s largest producer of eggs, consistently leading globally in both output and industry scale. Eggs are a staple nutritional source on Chinese tables.

The journey from henhouse to table requires significant effort to ensure safe, high-quality eggs. A recent People’s Daily investigation provides insights.

“Eggs are a primary agricultural product, and the most fundamental requirement is safety,” said Zhang Junmin, director of the Institute of Animal Science of the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences and chief scientist of the national chicken layer industry technology system. Put simply, healthy hens lay good eggs, Zhang added.

So how is the health of hens ensured?

At 7 a.m., at a breeding base operated by Sundaily Farm Ecological Food Co., Ltd. in Zitong, Mianyang, southwest China’s Sichuan province, farm managers put on protective clothing and undergo full-body disinfection before entering the henhouses to start their day.

Inside, fresh air systems run steadily, and automated equipment promptly processes chicken manure into organic fertilizer. The temperature is maintained at 22 to 26 degrees Celsius, humidity at 60 to 70 percent, and ammonia levels below 10 ppm. 

“A comfortable environment is vital for hen health and egg nutritional quality,” said Qi Sharina, the company’s director of product development.

Qi emphasized strict controls over feed varieties, sourcing, freshness, and mycotoxin levels, alongside balanced diets. Drinking water meets potable standards and is monitored throughout. “Targeted vaccination and antibiotic-reduction strategies also eliminate drug residues at the source,” she added.

Ensuring egg cleanliness and safety is another critical step.

Qi pointed to a fully automated production line where eggs moved orderly on conveyors. Robotic arms handled them with precision and care.

“Here, eggs go through multiple processes, including spraying, cleaning, air-drying, and ultraviolet sterilization, which effectively eliminate bacteria such as E. coli and salmonella on the shell surface,” she explained.

Digital technology makes every egg traceable. Picking up an egg marked with a traceability code, Qi explained that the code allows consumers to track the entire process from chick breeding to storage and transport. The company’s digital platform integrates farm management and production traceability, creating a closed-loop, data-driven system linking research and production.

In the mid-1990s, imported laying hens once accounted for more than 80 percent of China’s market. Wu Guiqin, deputy general manager of Beijing-based Yukou Poultry, recalled that an imported hen could lay more than 300 eggs annually, while a domestic one produced just over 100, a significant gap.

To address this, Chinese scientists began systematically collecting genetic resources in the 1990s, laying a solid foundation for future breeding efforts.

At a national core breeding farm in Beijing’s Pinggu district, technicians used smart devices to collect data on each hen, including egg production and egg weight. Eggs were then tested for shell strength, Haugh units, and other quality indicators. All data were fed into a performance database, forming the basis for selective breeding.

In 2009, a breakthrough arrived with two high-performance domestic breeds: “Jinghong No.1” and “Jingfen No.1.” Each capable of producing over 330 eggs annually, these breeds successfully broke the foreign dominance. After more than a decade of further research, Yukou Poultry established a fully commercialized independent breeding system. 

“Today, domestic breeds account for over 60 percent of the market,” Wu said. “Our breeding stock is also exported to countries such as Tanzania and Laos.”

Beyond safety, nutrition, and breeding independence, China is also strengthening the entire industrial chain. At an egg products R&D center of egg producer Hanovo in Dalian, northeast China’s Liaoning province, technicians are testing the foaming properties of newly developed enzymatically hydrolyzed egg protein powder. 

“We focus on applications such as baking, improving solubility and foaming performance so that egg-based ingredients better meet industrial needs,” said Wang Hongrong, the company’s general manager.

“Currently, deep processing accounts for only about 8 percent of China’s egg industry, leaving significant room for growth compared with developed countries,” Wang noted. As China’s catering industry becomes more industrialized and the baking sector expands, demand for standardized, high-quality egg ingredients continues to rise.

“Advanced processing is key to increasing added value,” said Han Jianchu, general manager of Hanovo’s parent company Hanwei Group. By processing fresh eggs at scale into products such as liquid eggs, egg powder, and soft-boiled eggs, the company is transforming primary agricultural products into standardized industrial ingredients and convenient foods. Its products are now exported to more than 10 countries and regions.

By Wu Yuehui, Wang Jiayao, Xi Jiayue

Emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI) and drones are rapidly reshaping the employment landscape. 

In China, new professions ranging from drone route planners and robot product managers to agricultural solutions engineers are continuously emerging. These Shifts in technological paradigms are creating fresh employment opportunities and opening up new possibilities.

On the rooftop of a logistics hub in Bao’an district, Shenzhen, Guangdong province, drones loaded with goods take off in succession, navigating between high-rise buildings along preset routes.

Ensuring their safe and orderly flight is Xue Haoran, a 24-year-old drone route planner at Chinese logistics giant SF Express. Despite just two years in the field, he is already a core team member, traversing the city daily with surveying equipment to map terrain and chart flight paths.

Drones represent one of the fastest-growing segments within China’s burgeoning low-altitude economy (airspace below 1,000 meters). As drone deployment scales up and applications diversify, demand for specialized roles like Xue’s continues to rise.

“Our role is to design safe and efficient routes for drone operators,” Xue explained. “We inspect takeoff and landing sites, assess environmental risks, and use mapping tools to plan paths between points, avoiding densely populated areas and hazards.”

Meanwhile, in robotics, embodied intelligence is advancing humanoid robots towards greater autonomy and enhanced human-machine collaboration, bringing them closer to real-world deployment. In Shenzhen, Wang Hongyang works as a robot product manager at Elephant Robotics, a Chinese tech firm specializing in robotic arms, kits, and parts.

“Our core task is to turn complex embodied intelligence technologies into tools that ordinary users can easily operate, combine, and innovate with,” Wang said.

To ensure a product’s successful development, Wang and his colleagues coordinate every stage of the process — from structural design and electronic engineering to front-end interface design — making sure that each step, from blueprint to mass production, meets expectations.

Qu Hongtao works as a humanoid robot data collection specialist at Beijing-based Zhongke Huiling Robot Technology.

Unlike earlier AI systems mainly processed text and images, humanoid robots operate in the physical world, which requires understanding complex physical rules, changes in light and shadow, and human movements. This, in turn, demands vast amounts of high-quality real-world data. Qu’s job is to “translate” the real world into data that machines can understand.

Speaking of how to translate abstract algorithm requirements into concrete data tasks, Qu said, “We think from the machine’s perspective. If the algorithm needs ‘stable walking,’ we have to consider what kind of surfaces to walk on, how long the stride should be, and how to shift the center of gravity. Turning these abstract terms into executable physical actions is fascinating creative work.” 

Cheng Zhongyi, 41, is a senior agricultural solutions engineer at DJI, a Chinese manufacturer of commercial unmanned aerial vehicles. Unlike traditional agricultural technicians, whose work relies heavily on experience and manual labor on fixed plots of land, Cheng’s role revolves around data and systems. His goal is to enable drones, acting as intelligent terminals, to perform agricultural tasks with enhanced precision and automation.

“This job gives me a strong sense of achievement, as I can see how technology is transforming a traditional industry,” Cheng said. “By analyzing large volumes of operational data and identifying common needs across different crops and regions, we design standardized intelligent solutions.” 

“Last year alone, I traveled 57,000 kilometers across the country, looking for more agricultural processes that drones can improve,” he added.

Today, professionals in these emerging fields can be found across China. Last year, the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security officially recognized 17 new professions and 42 new job categories — the highest number ever added at one time. 

Looking ahead, as industries such as commercial spaceflight, low-altitude economy, and deep-sea technology continue to grow, and as future sectors like bio-manufacturing, quantum technology, embodied intelligence, and 6G develop, the range of new careers will keep expanding.

Wang is optimistic about the future. “The robotics industry is on the verge of rapid growth. New AI models and sensor technologies are emerging every day,” he said. “This field is full of uncertainty and challenges — but that’s exactly what makes it so exciting.”

By Wang Ke, Lin Ziye, People’s Daily

Online shopping has become a daily routine for people across China, spanning generations from Gen Z to the elderly. Today, the country has 976 million online shoppers, reflecting the vast scale of its digital consumer base.

According to data released by China’s Ministry of Commerce, the country’s digital consumption has expanded in both scale and quality during the 14th Five-Year Plan period (2021-2025). Total digital consumption has exceeded 23.8 trillion yuan ($3.45 trillion), and China has remained the world’s largest online retail market for 13 consecutive years.

China’s online consumption continues to show strong growth. In 2025, online retail sales reached 15.97 trillion yuan, up 8.6 percent year on year, 1.4 percentage points faster than the previous year. Of this, online retail sales of physical goods totaled 13.09 trillion yuan, rising 5.2 percent and contributing 1.3 percentage points to the growth of total retail sales of consumer goods. 

New business models such as livestream e-commerce and instant retail have expanded rapidly. Livestream e-commerce maintained steady growth, with transaction volume rising 11.3 percent in 2025, while the rapid development of instant delivery services has enabled faster and more efficient fulfillment of consumer demand.

This impressive performance highlights the dual upgrade of scale and quality in China’s digital consumption.

Online retail is also driving consumption upgrading and improving people’s well-being. Convenient and efficient online shopping has become standard for Chinese consumers. According to commerce big data monitoring, online retail sales of digital products such as smartphones and intelligent robots grew by 20.5 percent and 18 percent, respectively, in 2025. Online retail is fueling the rise of smart, quality-oriented, and green consumption.

China has built the world’s largest delivery network with the widest coverage, benefiting a range of groups from consumers in first-tier cities to farmers in remote rural areas. This network now reaches nearly all townships, with courier services covering more than 95 percent of administrative villages. In 2025, 199 billion parcels were handled across the country. 

This network has eliminated geographic barriers and streamlined distribution channels, bringing the convenience of “order with a tap, deliver to your doorstep” within reach of households across the country.

Online retail is also accelerating industrial transformation and injecting momentum into high-quality development. E-commerce has improved the alignment between supply and demand, stimulating endogenous growth in China’s industries. In 2025, online retail sales in rural areas and of agricultural products grew by 6.7 percent and 9.9 percent, respectively, while e-commerce transactions in the textile and pharmaceutical sectors rose by 6.6 percent and 3.8 percent, respectively. At the same time, the sector has driven rapid growth in logistics, communications software, and artificial intelligence.

Beyond domestic markets, online retail is strengthening connections between China and the rest of the world, fostering mutual benefit and win-win cooperation. Chilean cherries and Peruvian blueberries have become popular among Chinese consumers, while Chinese-made robotic vacuum cleaners and heaters are selling well overseas. China’s online retail “circle of friends” continues to expand, bringing global products to Chinese consumers and offering more diverse and abundant choices to the world.

In 2025, the number of partner countries under the Silk Road E-commerce initiative increased to 36. In Shanghai, a pilot zone for Silk Road E-commerce cooperation has introduced and promoted 12 institutional innovations, including mutual recognition of digital identities across borders. According to statistics, retail sales on key cross-border e-commerce import platforms grew by 5.6 percent in 2025.

The 4th Global Digital Trade Expo was joined by 1,812 enterprises from 154 countries and regions, setting a new record. A total of 382 new products, technologies, and services were launched, showcased, or exhibited for the first time, an increase of nearly 90 percent, demonstrating how e-commerce is contributing to more inclusive and mutually beneficial economic globalization.

By Yu Jingxian, Dong Zeyang, People’s Daily

As the world largest producer and consumer of watermelons, China maintains a stable annual output of around 60 million tons. According to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, this accounts for roughly 60 percent of global production.

At Liguo Shunxin Supermarket in Jiaxiang county, east China’s Shandong province, stacks of round, glossy watermelons grown in Yunnan province stand out on the shelves. These “Mibao” watermelons sell for more than 4.99 yuan ($0.72) per 500 grams.

“Even though prices are higher than in summer, sales remain strong,” said store manager Zhang Hongtao, as he watched staff restock the watermelon display. Over the past half month, the supermarket has sold more than 80 kilograms of watermelons a day on average.

Zhang has noticed a pattern: during the off-season, customers tend to buy less per trip, but they shop more often and show strong interest in watermelons.

“They are juicy, sweet and not too heavy. Both the elderly and children in the family love them,” said a woman surnamed Zhang who was picking out a watermelon.

Wholesaler Li Jianguo explained the seasonal shift: “Spring and summer watermelons come from local farms, while winter supply transitions to southern regions. These varieties feature thicker rinds for transport resilience while maintaining consistent sweetness.”

“Watermelon supply and prices follow clear seasonal trends,” said Zhao Junye, a researcher at the Agricultural Information Institute of the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS). After October each year, supply begins to decline and prices gradually rise. In the first quarter, the average national wholesale price usually exceeds 3 yuan per 500 grams. From April onward, as harvests increase significantly, prices fall quickly.

Blessed with abundant heat and sunlight, Hainan province in south China is one of China’s main winter production bases for fruits and vegetables. At the Beishanyang planting base in Haitang district of Sanya, Hainan province, the watermelon harvest has just been completed.

“Good varieties and careful packaging help ensure strong sales,” said Zhang Wei, head of the base and deputy general manager of Hainan State Farms Shenquan Group Co., Ltd. The Qilin seedless watermelons grown there, with bright red flesh and a crisp, juicy taste, are particularly popular in the market.

Because watermelons prefer warmth and sunlight but are sensitive to excessive moisture, the base has built greenhouses to shield plants from wind and rain while maintaining stable temperatures. A drip irrigation system and monitoring equipment also help create an ideal microclimate for growth.

Last year, this 33-hectare (500 mu) base achieved yields of approximately 2,500 kg per mu (0.067 hectares). “Our harvest sold out pre-harvest,” confirmed Zhang Wei, the base director.

What, then, is the secret behind China’s year-round watermelon supply?

Xu Yong, a researcher at the Beijing Vegetable Research Center of the Beijing Academy of Agriculture and Forestry Sciences, told People’s Daily that China’s vast territory provides diverse climates and growing conditions. 

Combined with the development of suitable varieties and the widespread use of modern agricultural techniques, such as greenhouse cultivation, integrated water and fertilizer management, and environmentally friendly pest control, farmers can grow watermelons in different regions throughout the year, Xu added.

China’s watermelon production is now concentrated in five major regions. Southern China supplies the market in winter; the Yangtze River basin and the Huang-Huai-Hai region bring early harvests in spring; the northwest extends the season with later harvests; and open-field cultivation in the northwest and northeast areas ensures supply during summer and autumn.

At the same time, breeding programs continuesly adapt to changing consumer preferences.

In Yanjia village of Yaojia township in Zhongmu county, central China’s Henan province, farmer Ma Xiuhong grows watermelons in greenhouses. In addition to conventional varieties, she has set aside half a mu to grow “rainbow watermelons.”

These “rainbow watermelons” are a specialty variety developed in recent years by the Zhengzhou Fruit Research Institute of CAAS. When cut open, the flesh displays red and yellow layers resembling a rainbow. The fruit is sweet, crisp and rich in beta-carotene.

Xu added that China now offers a wide range of watermelon varieties. They can be classified by maturity — early, mid-early or late; by size — large, medium or small; and by flesh colors — including red, yellow, orange and multicolored varieties.

Behind this diversity lies the advancement of technological innovation. China’s watermelon breeding technology ranks among the world’s leading levels. Domestic varieties account for more than 98 percent of the market, and high quality has become the standard.

As early as 2012, Xu’s team completed the world’s first watermelon genome map. The achievement effectively opened the “black box” of watermelon genetics, identifying genes related to resistance against diseases such as fusarium wilt, anthracnose and powdery mildew, while also clarifying the genetic mechanisms behind traits such as sugar content, fruit size and shape.

Xu said that future research will focus on improving both resistance and quality while expanding the diversity of varieties. “In particular, high-quality medium and small watermelons with diverse flesh colors are likely to become the highlight of future watermelon breeding,” he noted.

By Fan Wei

A recent milestone in China’s aviation sector saw the successful maiden flight of an electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft. Resembling an electric vehicle equipped with wings, this innovative craft can carry two passengers at speeds up to 150 km/h below 3,000 meters. Notably, the detachable wings allow it to drive over 300 kilometers on the road.

This achievement reflects the strong momentum of China’s low-altitude economy, which is rapidly becoming a key driver of the nation’s new quality productive forces. Advancements in airspace management, core equipment breakthroughs, and developing infrastructure networks position the sector to transition from pilot flights to scenario-based validation by 2026.

Across China, diverse application scenarios are rapidly emerging. In major agricultural provinces such as Shandong, Henan and Sichuan, drones are widely used for crop protection, playing an important role in coordinated pest and disease control. 

In challenging environments like Yunnan and Xizang autonomous region, drones are essential for high-altitude power grid maintenance, serving as the primary tool for line inspections. Consumer applications are also growing; during 2026 Spring Festival holiday, Chongqing staged seven drone light shows, with drone performances becoming a new driver of consumer spending. 

Local governments nationwide are actively exploring demand-driven, locally adapted low-altitude applications. Agricultural and forestry operations, along with inspection services, are among the most mature use cases. By 2025, more than 300,000 agricultural drones were operating in China, covering 460 million mu (30.66 million hectares) of farmland. 

According to Li Chao, deputy director of the Policy Research Office of the National Development and Reform Commission, drones are now widely used for crop protection, fertilization and cargo lifting, significantly improving agricultural productivity. Meanwhile, drone-based power line inspections have exceeded 4 million kilometers, enhancing grid safety.

“Compared with manual work, crop-protection drones greatly shorten operation time and improve efficiency,” said Cheng Zhongyi, a senior technical solutions engineer at DJI Agriculture. 

“Spraying pesticides on a 150-mu orchard used to take four workers over three days. With a drone, the same task can be completed in just one day — crucial for responding to sudden pest outbreaks,” he noted.

For power inspection, drones equipped with LiDAR technology can automatically generate high-precision 3D models, far surpassing visual inspection. They can safely approach high-voltage environments and detect heat anomalies invisible to the naked eye. Even at night, drones can carry out inspections. Work that once took a traditional inspection team a week can now be completed in a single day.

China has recently launched its first large-scale drone operation in offshore oilfields. The project, officially deployed in the Beibu Gulf, north China’s Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region, covering 41 offshore platforms and two onshore terminals. This marks the full-scale industrial application of low-altitude economy technologies in offshore oilfields, establishing a multi-scenario drone operation system.

This progress relies on the mature application of multiple drone models, including the TD550 heavy-lift unmanned helicopter. 

“Offshore logistics has long faced challenges, especially in rough sea conditions where traditional transport methods are limited,” said Tian Gangyin, chief designer of the TD550. “The TD550 can withstand winds up to Force 8 and carry more than 200 kilograms per trip.”

He noted that drones can replace part of the work done by ships and helicopters, improving efficiency by over 30 percent, each year saving nearly 15 million yuan ($2.18 million) in vessel leasing and fuel costs, and reducing carbon emissions by 25,000 tons.

At present, China’s low-altitude economy is advancing through multiple technological pathways, including fixed-wing and rotary-wing aircraft, manned and unmanned systems, as well as conventional and new-energy power systems, meeting the needs of diverse application scenarios.

During the 14th Five-Year Plan period (2021-2025), more than 70 domestically developed general aviation aircraft obtained airworthiness certification, while 18 civilian drones received approval. Nearly 30 ton-class drones and around 70 types of eVTOL aircraft are currently under development. As of December 30, 2025, 1,081 enterprises had registered in the sector, with 3,623 product types on record totaling over 5.29 million units.

An industry expert noted that China has established a complete industrial chain for the low-altitude economy, with a mature full-spectrum drone ecosystem and a leading share in the global market. Technologies such as new energy, intelligent manufacturing and artificial intelligence have provided strong support, driving rapid market expansion.

Looking ahead, a major challenge for the sector is transitioning low-altitude applications from industrial use to mass consumer adoption.

“While many demonstration zones have emerged across the country, most focus on single functions such as logistics or inspection. This is still some distance from the integrated, all-factor ecosystem I envision,” said Wu Ximing, chief technical expert at the Aviation Industry Corporation of China. 

He noted that the low-altitude economy should be more deeply integrated with urban transportation, emergency response and social governance, becoming a seamless part of everyday life.