The 2025 Hunan (International) General Aviation and Low-Altitude Economy Expo opened Thursday in Changsha, highlighting China’s bid to accelerate commercial aviation innovation and build a full low-altitude economic ecosystem.
The three-day event, held at the Changsha International Convention and Exhibition Centre, was launched by Zhang Yingchun, a senior provincial leader and executive vice-governor of Hunan. More than 1,000 participants from federal ministries, research institutes, industry associations, and aviation companies from across China and abroad attended the opening ceremony.
Senior military and civil aviation figures — including PLA Air Force Major General Qin Baolu, former Civil Aviation Administration of China head Li Jiaxiang, Chinese Academy of Engineering academician Liu Daxiang, and Changsha Deputy Party Secretary Zhou Jian — delivered keynote remarks.
A showcase of China’s low-altitude ambitions
This year’s expo runs under the theme “Developing the Low-Altitude Economy for a Better Life.” The 60,000-square-metre exhibition floor features zones dedicated to airspace-management reform, advanced manufacturing, real-world application scenarios, new infrastructure, unmanned systems and eVTOL aircraft, low-altitude services, and public science education.
More than 200 domestic and international industry leaders — including Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC), Aero Engine Corporation of China, State Grid Corporation of China, DJI, XPENG AEROHT, and Sunward SkyLink — are showcasing new technologies, products and application breakthroughs in general aviation and unmanned flight.
Over 20 side events, from technical forums and product launches to matchmaking sessions, are scheduled throughout the expo, forming what organizers describe as an integrated “exhibition + forum + partnership + experience” model.
Experts discuss pathways for low-altitude growth
At the main forum, experts including former vice-minister of science and technology Wu Zhongze, Chinese Academy of Sciences academician Tong Qingxi, and Sunward founder He Qinghua discussed issues such as technological innovation, industry integration, drone safety governance, and green aviation engines. Their presentations offered policy direction and research insights aimed at strengthening Hunan’s role in China’s emerging low-altitude sector.
Hunan positions itself as a national pilot province
Hunan is China’s first province to pilot full-region low-altitude airspace-management reform — an initiative seen as central to unlocking commercial drone services, advanced air mobility, and private general aviation.
According to provincial data, Hunan has built a 245-square-kilometre test and verification zone and mapped 687 application scenarios. Traditional general-aviation flights reached nearly 90,000 sorties in the first three quarters of 2025, while annual drone flight hours are expected to surpass two million. The province now hosts a complete industrial chain, with aircraft landing gear and small to mid-sized aviation engines holding more than 90% of China’s domestic market share.
So far this year, Hunan has signed 37 aerospace and BeiDou-related investment projects worth more than 33 billion yuan (about CAD$6.3 billion). Officials describe low-altitude development as a core driver of new economic productivity.
Strengthening research and safety cooperation
During the expo, the Hunan Provincial Development and Reform Commission signed a strategic agreement with Civil Aviation University of China to jointly build a low-altitude aviation safety platform and deepen cooperation in planning, research, and talent training. Officials say the partnership is aimed at helping Hunan develop into a national demonstration province for the low-altitude economy.
Expo grows into major international platform
Since its launch three years ago, the Hunan General Aviation and Low-Altitude Economy Expo has attracted more than 3,000 exhibitors and facilitated over 100 signed projects valued at nearly 70 billion yuan. The event has emerged as a key platform for international cooperation and industry-chain collaboration in China’s rapidly growing low-altitude sector.
Beyond the static displays in Changsha, aerial demonstrations will take place Thursday afternoon in Zhuzhou, featuring paramotor shows, aerobatic formations, electric vertical-takeoff-and-landing aircraft demos, and emergency medical-rescue simulations — offering the public a close-up view of China’s expanding general-aviation capabilities.
