Amid the global wave of technological revolution, Qingdao emerges as a competitive player in the low-altitude economy. [Photo/WeChat account: opinionline]

Amid the global wave of technological revolution, Qingdao is emerging as a competitive player in the low-altitude economy — a vibrant form of new quality productive forces. With strong foundations and unique advantages, the city has gained national recognition, including the civil unmanned aerial vehicle pilot zone for island scenarios.

Since 2024, Qingdao has accelerated its breakthroughs in this field. The implementation of the Low-Altitude Economy High-Quality Development Implementation Plan and the establishment of the Qingdao Low-Altitude Economy Alliance have fueled rapid growth. Application scenarios continue to expand, with logistics leading the way.

Low-altitude logistics is one of the most common application scenarios. In June 2024, Qingdao Metro Group, SF Holding, and Qingdao Cihang Airport jointly launched the first low-altitude logistics route in northern China, enabling the rapid transport of agricultural products from Shandong to Beijing. Since the beginning of this year, Qingdao has continued to expand marine and island transport scenarios, consistently exerting a demonstrative and leading effect in the northern region.

Innovation continues to thrive. Qingdao became the first northern Chinese city to launch an airport shuttle air route, making "taking a flight to the airport" a reality. On Oct 23, a groundbreaking eVTOL low-altitude tourism and transportation hub was established in the Qingdao West Coast New Area, introducing advanced "air taxis" like the EH216-S. These developments are tapping into the tourism potential of Qingdao's coastal landscapes.

With over 190 members, the Qingdao Low-Altitude Economy Alliance is driving collaboration across six specialized sectors, aiming to achieve large-scale, regular low-altitude operations by 2027. Qingdao's low-altitude vision is set to reach new heights.