On February 13, a significant event took place in Chengdu, Sichuan Province, marking the start of major project advancements intended for the first quarter of 2025. The scene is set for an intense competitive push within the region, as the focus is on a burgeoning new city that is rapidly expanding its industrial sectorsThis progressive initiative has already yielded remarkable outcomes in Chengdu, notably with the BYD factory experiencing a surge in demand, producing high quantities of aluminum structural components at Fulong Technology, and significant output from Tangde Furniture exceeding 50 million RMB in production ordersBehind these impressive figures lies a strategic vision that combines the low-altitude economy with the aviation industry, facilitating collaborative development across varied sectors such as electronic information, smart home technologies, and new materialsThis budding city within the Chengdu Metropolitan area is employing what is termed as ‘new productive forces’ to shape its regional economic landscape.

The transformation of Chengdu into a hub for low-altitude economic activities exemplifies a shift from leisure travel to a more robust industrial ecosystemDuring the Spring Festival, Haoyun General Aviation flight base welcomed over 4,500 tourists, generating approximately 600,000 RMB in revenues during the weekExperiences such as low-altitude flights and parachuting became exceedingly popular, signaling a growing interest in this unique tourism segment.

Chengdu boasts the province's first collaborative management pilot airspace, known as the "Chuanxie No.1 Airspace," which allows connectivity with other cities in the Chengdu area and across Sichuan ProvinceThe immense low-altitude airspace resources and interconnected low-altitude flight networks offer an essential foundation for developing this thriving low-altitude economy.

The expansion of aerial services by Haoyun has extended its network to surround urban areas, and the planned runway expansion along with the introduction of the “Big Bear” aircraft model showcase the transition of low-altitude economic activities from simple tourism experiences to practical applications including logistics delivery and emergency services.

Moreover, Chengdu provides ample space for low-altitude manufacturing

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The clustering of aviation material and component production accelerates the local competitive edge in the low-altitude manufacturing sectorSupported by the collaboration between Qingyang and Chengdu, a joint cooperation zone of 11.4 square kilometers called the "Qing-Cheng Cooperation Zone" has been established, allowing for rapid deployment and usage of key aviation industrial projects within the core 2.1 square kilometer area designated for the Qing-Cheng Aerospace Technology Industrial Park.

As Li Tao, head of the regional cooperation department in the Chengdu Economic Development Zone puts it, “We are capitalizing on opportunities in aviation equipment and low-altitude economic development to carve out new industrial pathsTogether with Qingyang District, we are establishing the Qing-Cheng Aviation Technology Industrial Park.” Significant strides have been made in educational technology sectors, with key enterprises in aircraft engine research and manufacturing and components production already looking to launch a high-performance testing platform for lightweight enginesAcross new aviation materials, investments have been made in the processing of specialty metals and carbon fiber production, with notable companies beginning operationsAdditionally, firms specializing in aviation operations and maintenance, like Fengxiu Technology and Xunfei Aviation, are engaging in drone repair, testing, and flight functions.

The blossoming aviation industry is characterized by significant technological advancements and cooperative regional strategiesAt the Chengdu base of Zhongfa Tianxin, plans are underway to develop a high-altitude testing center for light aircraft engines, addressing a gap in the market for medium-sized aircraft testing capabilities domesticallyMeanwhile, Hongyuan Aviation is prioritizing the production of carbon fiber prepreg to meet the growing demand for domestically sourced aviation materials.

The collaborative dynamic between Qingyang and Chengdu has fostered a new development paradigm, wherein headquarters for research remain in Qingyang while production and testing facilities establish their base in Chengdu

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This proximity accelerates the establishment of crucial supply chains and creates more efficient operationsThe dual-base model operated by firms such as Zhongfa Tianxin exemplifies this trend—research remaining in the innovation hub while production takes place in a resource-rich environment.

Looking forward, the Zhongfa Tianxin light aircraft engine research and production facility is set to operate by 2027. This strategic positioning enables further integration of both regions' resources and industry strengths in the aircraft engine sectorAs a result, a wider assembly of aviation-related businesses is likely to cluster in Chengdu, creating a beneficial cycle of enterprise strength and industry support.

The entirety of Chengdu’s economic framework is rapidly evolving, shifting not merely towards targeted breakthroughs but encompassing broader systemic upgradesThrough the “Establish Gardens to Enrich Gardens” initiative, Chengdu is pushing for traditional sectors such as electronic information and smart home technologies to advance into higher-value, intelligent domains.

Fulong Technology, for instance, supplies high-end aluminum structures for major corporations like Samsung and Google; Nitto Materials dominates supply chains with OLED polarizers critical to companies like BOE; and Tangde Furniture has significantly upgraded production efficiency by implementing Industry 4.0 technologies, projecting annual output to reach 450 million RMBThe unfolding capitalizing of the traditional furniture industry on emerging technologies, combined with major firms like All Friend collaborating with Huawei towards smart home initiatives, exemplifies Chengdu’s strategic approach of blending consumer electronics with smart home developments.

Policy plays a pivotal role in supporting Chengdu’s economic explosion, fostering an era of innovative regulatory approaches that bridge business needs with government supportFor instance, in addressing workforce shortages reported by major firms such as BYD, the region initiated recruitment efforts through the "Spring Breeze Action," optimizing labor resource agreements across regions to fulfill employment demands

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