In July 2026, a significant impetus occurred for China's low-altitude airspace economy. The revised Civil Aviation Law came into effect on July 1st, officially incorporating the low-altitude airspace economy into national legislation for the first time.
At the end of the month, the International Exhibition of Low-Altitude Airspace Economy 2026 concluded in Shanghai, featuring 452 exhibitors, showcasing 570 aircraft, and presenting 65 new products and technologies. As noted by Wang Fan, Deputy Director of the Scientific Research Office for Science, Technology, and Standards at the CCID Research Institute, the industry has progressed from demonstration flights to regular commercial operations, passing through stages of 'new growth engine,' 'developing industry,' and 'rising pillar industry' in various government reports.
According to CAAC data, the market for China's low-altitude airspace economy was valued at 1.5 trillion yuan in 2025, with nearly 40,000 drone operators and key technologies transitioning from 'followers' to 'selective leaders.' The Yangtze River Delta, Pearl River Delta, and Chengdu-Chongqing regions have established complete industrial chains. Last year, Shenzhen conducted over one million cargo drone flights, utilizing 310 cargo routes and 8 corridors for inter-city logistics. Shanghai cluster plans for early 2026 aim to create a 'Global eVTOL Capital.'
Safety issues remain the main limiting factor. The establishment of a specialized Low-Altitude Airspace Safety Department by CAAC in May allowed for the closure of a regulatory cycle covering airspace planning, airworthiness certification, and market supervision. The 'Three Firsts, Three Lasts' principle now governs technology implementation: first cargo, then passengers; first segregated airspace, then integrated; first suburban operations, then urban ones.
United Aircraft Group, whose industrial drone helicopter TD550 is the first industrial rotorcraft certified by CAAC in China, employs flight control and navigation system redundancy, operational flight range protection, emergency power, no-fly zone avoidance, and autonomous fault detection and isolation.
eVTOL company AutoFlight, behind the V2000CG cargo aircraft and the five-ton V5000 Sky-Dragon, follows a similar strategy. Its large cargo eVTOL completed a 12.8 km replenishment flight over Cannan in Wenzhou during the Dragon Boat Festival, carrying about 200 kg of cargo and reducing transit time tenfold compared to traditional delivery methods.
Despite the political momentum and product development, the industry is still in the initial scaling phase. Five major problems identified by ZeroG Aircraft Industry in Hefei affect the entire sector: scarce and fragmented airspace, incomplete ground infrastructure, immature rules and standards, weak public trust which requires numerous regular flights to build, and a serious shortage of personnel.
The 'Three Firsts, Three Lasts' principle helps mitigate regulatory risks, but the industrial challenge remains more complex: transforming an operational aircraft into a profitable route, and an operational route into a network that ultimately becomes a service paid for by the rest of the economy.
Summer consumer demand in China has once again attracted the attention of the global community due to the influx of foreign tourists into the country's cities, the viral 'China Travel' trend on social media, and the growing international demand for Chinese cooling products. According to a survey conducted by CGTN among internet users worldwide, 86.1% of respondents believe that China's summer economy is not just a seasonal surge in domestic consumption but also demonstrates how China's vast market creates new opportunities for the global economy.
Since the beginning of this year, China has continued to expand its visa-free entry program, optimized visa-free transit rules, and improved tax refund services for departing travelers, providing international guests with a more convenient and seamless travel and shopping experience. In response, 74.1% of respondents stated their intention to visit China this summer. One poll participant noted that 'China is not only sharing the benefits of its own development but also facilitating people's visits to the country, allowing them to see its achievements firsthand and gain experiences that can offer valuable lessons to other countries. There is no doubt that the new visa policy is attracting more travelers who choose China as their preferred destination.'
As China continues its high-level opening up, travel to China is spontaneously becoming an increasingly likely choice for foreign travelers. This not only increases consumption in sectors such as accommodation, dining, transportation, and shopping but also allows the world to gain an updated view of a real, diverse, and open China through personal experience. In this regard, 89.5% of respondents believe that China shares the benefits of development with the world through its openness. Furthermore, 95.8% assert that China is accelerating its transformation from merely a 'world factory' to a 'world market' driving global consumption.
Simultaneously, cooling products, including air conditioners, fans, ice makers, and sun protection items, remain very popular in overseas markets this summer. Many products have faced sharp increases in orders and even shortages due to huge demand. Thanks to flexible and efficient supply chains, improved product quality, and manufacturing capabilities that quickly adapt to global consumer needs, Chinese companies are continuously turning innovation into new competitive advantages in the global market.
Consequently, 80.1% of respondents are confident that Chinese companies, relying on a complete industrial system and flexible supply chains, are capable of accurately capturing global climate trends and consumer needs, as well as promptly updating their offerings. Overall, 91.2% stated that China's diverse application scenarios and vast consumer market help commercialize new technologies and products while contributing to the growth of global industry. Moreover, 88.2% of respondents believe that China's summer economy not only revitalizes domestic consumption but also brings greater confidence and a fresh impetus to global supply chains and the world economy.
The survey was published on CGTN's English, Spanish, French, Arabic, and Russian platforms. Within 24 hours, it gathered 4,524 responses from internet users who participated in the poll and shared their opinions.
