The four-day 2026 International Low-Altitude Economy Expo concluded at the National Exhibition and Convention Center (Shanghai). As a key core hub for Shanghai's low-altitude economy, Wujing Town in Minhang District actively participated in the event. Through major forums, group exhibitions, and global investment matching, the town showcased the developing potential of the low-altitude industry along the First Bend of the Huangpu River. This effort resulted in a breakthrough in project signings and investment attraction, delivering an impressive industry performance report. This riverside town, known for its tech and fashion characteristics, once again captured public attention.
Major projects were settled, and the "dual-core plus two zones" industrial layout was announced. On July 24, a key forum titled "Universal Low-Altitude, Safe Boundaries" focusing on urban scenario testing took place. Hosted by Shanghai Low-Altitude Economy Industry Development Co., Ltd., the forum saw supporting enterprises including China Telecom, China Tower, China Unicom, CPIC, Wuxi Zhongke Optoelectronics, and Guangji Liang sign agreements to establish a presence at the Minhang flight test base. These companies will provide comprehensive support for the base's construction and safe operations, covering low-altitude communications, airspace monitoring, flight insurance, and metrology testing. Following this, 14 enterprises, such as AVIC Avionics, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, TCab Tech, and Volant, signed on as the first batch of companies to use the test field.
By utilizing idle factory buildings in a strategic reserve area, Wujing has created a unique low-altitude "panoramic laboratory" within the city. This testing area boasts an advantageous location, with no interference from civil aviation routes above and no geological hazards below. It can simulate complex real-world urban environments to conduct multi-aircraft, multi-entity, and cross-scenario integrated flight tests. The team is currently pioneering the exploration of an air right-of-way allocation mechanism, focusing on developing low-altitude traffic management solutions to provide a Shanghai Minhang sample for national low-altitude regulations.
During the expo, Wujing officially released the "Minhang Wujing Civil Aviation (Low-Altitude Economy Investment Guide)," unveiling its "dual-core plus two zones" industrial development layout. One core is the full-chain industry R&D system, covering aviation materials, key components, engine propulsion, airborne systems, eVTOL, and drone R&D, with supporting services like airworthiness certification and testing. The other core is the Minhang flight test base, serving as the test hub for implementing real-world applications like aerial commuting, urban patrol, low-altitude logistics, and emergency rescue. The "dual-core plus two zones" layout connects the Jinling Airborne Equipment Zone and the Lianhuashengkai Engine Power Service Zone, supported by five key elements: airspace, energy, computing power, applications, and talent, forming a complete industrial development framework.
Wujing has formed a practical civil aviation airborne equipment cluster, gathering 117 low-altitude economy-related enterprises, with 45 focused on the low-altitude field. As one of Wujing's three current pillar industries, the low-altitude economy sector made a strong group appearance at this expo. Over 10 local chain enterprises, including AVIC Avionics, AVIAGE Systems, Beichen Power, Tianyu Aviation, and Chenlong Aircraft, showcased their offerings. Compared to the previous edition, the scale and variety of exhibits significantly expanded, demonstrating the industry strength of the only national-level airborne equipment cluster in China.
The four core advantages position Wujing as a premier investment destination for the low-altitude economy. Rooted by the Huangpu River, Wujing holds four irreplaceable industrial advantages. At the critical juncture of the 15th Five-Year Plan's start, leveraging the expo, Wujing has fully communicated its core strengths for investment and cooperation to all low-altitude sector participants. These strengths include test flight verification as a hub, R&D as the core, a full-chain industry for extension, and market-oriented operations for a closed loop. The robust large-aircraft industry foundation includes leading central enterprises like COMAC Customer Service, AVIC Avionics, and AECC Commercial Aircraft Engine, forming a cluster of 132 enterprises with an annual output value exceeding 18.6 billion yuan and over 12,000 employees, providing mature supply chains.
Wujing offers a unique real-world flight test site in the Yangtze River Delta's main urban area, with a 14.2-square-kilometer exclusive test airspace that solves industry-wide challenges of limited airspace and single test scenarios. The "Dazero Bay" scientific innovation source provides strong support, with prestigious universities like Shanghai Jiao Tong University and East China Normal University, hundreds of specialized and high-tech enterprises, and academician workstations, ensuring smooth pathways for产学研成果转化 (industry-academia-research achievement transformation). Three specialized industrial parks focus on different areas: Zizhu Hi-Tech Park on large aircraft R&D, Jinling on airborne equipment manufacturing, and Lianhuashengkai on engine power operations, allowing for precise matching of enterprise tracks.
A comprehensive support system covering the entire enterprise lifecycle is in place. The five key elements of airspace, energy, computing power, applications, and talent are all available, including exclusive test airspace, dedicated low-altitude computing platforms, and targeted talent pipelines from universities. Complete urban amenities like education, housing, and medical care, combined with the Dazero Bay special support policies, are complemented by dedicated low-altitude industry work teams, industry-specific funds, and the Chunshen Talent Plan, providing comprehensive support from tech subsidies to financing and talent housing. More than 10,000 apartments, the under-construction Ruijin Hospital Minhang Campus, quality educational resources, the First Bend Wetland Park, and Yongde Road commercial street ensure a good living environment for talent.
Precise targeted investment covers the entire low-altitude industry chain. During the expo, the "Connecting Global, Minhang Sets Sail" 2026 Low-Altitude Industry International Economic and Trade Matching Conference was held, where Wujing issued a global invitation for low-altitude industry investment. Town leaders led a team stationed at the expo, actively engaging with enterprises at the Minhang exhibition area. They conducted negotiations with over 20 well-known industry companies, including EHang, Yangzhou Wanfang, Hwa Create, Jitai Aviation, Aokun Technology, and Meituan. After learning about the resources and support, many companies expressed clear intentions of establishing Wujing Minhang as a core business base.
The investment matching covered all sectors of the low-altitude economy chain, each precisely matching the town's industrial development direction. In the eVTOL manned aircraft track, several aircraft R&D enterprises were engaged. These companies value real-world test flight airspace in the main city and supporting airworthiness certification, and the Minhang test base's multi-scenario conditions meet their needs. In the drone and urban low-altitude application track, discussions were held with logistics companies. Scenarios like urban delivery, aerial patrol, emergency rescue, and agriculture can be simulated at the test base, combined with pre-signed communication and insurance support, providing a one-stop solution for low-altitude operations.
Enterprises in the airborne system, avionics, and new energy power component tracks complement existing local resources like AVIAGE Systems and CATL, leveraging the clustering effect of the Jinling and Lianhuashengkai zones to reduce collaboration costs. Wujing continues to welcome enterprises in the low-altitude support service track. Communication, insurance, and metrology testing companies have already settled in, and the town will continue to engage with institutions in airspace management, low-altitude simulation computing, airworthiness testing, and financial services to improve the low-altitude industry service ecosystem. A Wujing town official stated that the low-altitude economy is a national strategic emerging pillar industry. The town possesses rare test flight resources in the main city, a complete aviation industry chain, top-tier scientific innovation capabilities, and full-cycle policy support. The doors of the First Bend of the Huangpu River are open, inviting low-altitude industry partners from across China and the globe to visit, explore, and jointly pursue the new blue ocean of the low-altitude economy.