Low-altitude economy takes off in northwest China's Xinjiang

The low-altitude economy has become a key example of new quality productive forces – China's development path that focuses on high-tech, high-efficiency, and high-quality – in the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. Across Xinjiang, drones now serve as farm tools, helicopter tours are boosting tourism, and cross-border drone logistics have become operational.

Ursa Aeronautical is one of 18 drone manufacturing companies in Xinjiang. The company has achieved mass production of its HY100 large-scale drone after establishing a production line in 2024. Backed by technological, industrial, and policy advantages, the company has helped Shihezi become a benchmark for China's low-altitude economy.

Xinjiang is the core region of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), said Wang li, director of the Production Planning Department of Ursa Aeronautical.

"As a national logistics hub, Shihezi facilitates access to the Central Asian market, aligning with the international expansion needs of our strategy. The vast and sparsely populated area with favorable airspace conditions is ideal for drones' large-scale applications," said Wang.

The company's superstar, the HY100, possessing 1,800-kilometer range and 1,900-kilogram payload capacity, reduces cross-border logistics costs by 40 percent.

The drones are also benefitting local agriculture and tourism sectors.

In Bayingolin Mongolian Autonomous Prefecture alone, over 2,900 agricultural drones have collectively worked on 800,000 hectares of farmland in 2025.

Eighteen of the region's 5A-level scenic areas now offer helicopter and hot air balloon rides, with 16 dedicated low-altitude tourism routes.

Xinjiang's low-altitude economy grew at 58 percent in 2024, contributing 12 percent to regional GDP.

Advancing a high-quality industrial system and exploring new models for the development of the low-altitude economy has become key issues.

Bai Feilong, deputy director of the Transportation Bureau of Shihezi, said the government has prioritized formulating a low-altitude economic development plan while strengthening the existing aviation manufacturing sector.

"Efforts are focused on expanding the entire industrial chain, encompassing aircraft manufacturing, training, and application. We are actively exploring new application scenarios to fully leverage the potential of low-altitude economy," said Bai.

Technology is the key. The HY100's AI-powered flight control system reduces energy consumption by 25 percent. With 110 patents in flight control and navigation technologies, the company is an example of new quality productive forces in action.

Going forward, Ursa will continue to focus on the domestic and international market, actively responding to the BRI, said Wang. The company has signed cooperation agreements with enterprises in Kazakhstan, Indonesia, and other countries, assisting in the global expansion of China's drone industry.

By 2030, Xinjiang aims to become a low-altitude logistics hub, leveraging its east-west connectivity to establish cross-border drone corridors with Central Asian nations, and deepening economic integration through Belt and Road cooperation.