Guangzhou's Huangpu Sets a New Benchmark as a "Sky City"

Recently, the low-altitude economy industry session of the "City of Opportunities, Soaring Prospects" series of investment promotion events was held at the Guangzhou Daily Media Center. Dong Yanjun, Member of the Standing Committee of the CPC Huangpu District Committee, Deputy Secretary of the Party Leadership Group of the District Government, and Executive Deputy District Mayor, extended an invitation to leading global enterprises in the low-altitude economy. He noted that the district has established multiple RMB 100-billion-level and RMB 50-billion-level modern industrial clusters, with its comprehensive strength firmly ranking second among national economic and technological development zones. Huangpu aims to become a demonstration zone for comprehensive low-altitude economy application scenarios in Guangdong Province and accelerate the development of an RMB 100-billion-level low-altitude industrial cluster.
In terms of industrial development, Huangpu District has gathered 18 specialized, sophisticated, distinctive, and innovative (SRDI) "Little Giant" enterprises, four single-item champion enterprises, and nine listed companies in the low-altitude economy sector. Covering the entire industry chain, the district has become a key national cluster for the low-altitude economy. Leading enterprises such as EHang, XPeng AeroHT, and GAC Gaoyu are driving this development, while collaborative efforts among the government, enterprises, and research institutions are continuously enhancing independent innovation capabilities.

An EHang unmanned passenger aircraft flies over Jiulong Lake Plaza in China-Singapore Guangzhou Knowledge City. (Photo by Li Jianfeng)

Regarding supporting facilities, Huangpu District is building a "3+9+N" low-altitude takeoff and landing system. It has already constructed facilities including one A2-class general aviation heliport and six eVTOL (electric vertical takeoff and landing) vertiports. Simultaneously, it is advancing the construction of industrial carriers such as the Knowledge City Low-Altitude Industrial Equipment Intelligent Manufacturing Park, forming a coordinated "north-central-south" spatial layout.

XPeng AeroHT's "Land Aircraft Carrier" flying car rolls off the trial mass-production line alongside multi-aircraft test flights. (Photo by Li Jianfeng)

In terms of application scenarios, Huangpu District has opened more than 100 manned and logistics flight routes, facilitating over 10,000 flight operations. It has achieved normalized operations in fields such as manned sightseeing, low-altitude logistics, low-altitude medical services, and agricultural applications. Notably, its low-altitude logistics routes were honored with the Forbes China Innovation in Application Scenarios Award. The district is also actively striving to establish a Guangzhou-Hong Kong cross-border low-altitude logistics route.

In April 2025, the Guangzhou Huangpu Comprehensive Bonded Zone officially launched an intelligent customs clearance model for low-altitude transport. (Photo by Li Jianfeng)

In terms of services, Huangpu District boasts a professional investment promotion team. Enterprises can receive their business licenses immediately upon registration, and 38 procedures across eight departments can be handled in a one-stop manner, with dedicated teams escorting the process throughout. Focusing on the most urgent certification needs of enterprises, the team actively liaises with the Central and Southern Regional Administration of CAAC and the CAAC Guangzhou Aircraft Airworthiness Certification Center to open a green channel for airworthiness certification. Addressing funding—the most pressing concern for enterprises—the investment promotion team helps connect them with venture capital funds, ensuring a worry-free journey from establishment to growth.

A planning map of the Knowledge City Aerospace Intelligent Manufacturing Equipment Park. (Photo provided by the Publicity Department of the CPC Huangpu District Committee)

In terms of talent, Huangpu District has implemented a "high-level talent agglomeration" policy to strengthen the recruitment of top-tier professionals in flight control algorithms, R&D design, and manufacturing. It has improved service guarantees covering employment internships, professional title assessments, housing, and household registration settlement. Furthermore, the district encourages the cultivation of operational talent, such as drone operators, to build a professional workforce that drives the development of the low-altitude industry. (Written by Zheng Jiajun)