Drone Zones at 139th Canton Fair Showcase China’s Low-Altitude Economy Vitality

The 139th China Import and Export Fair, widely known as the Canton Fair, has brought the booming prospects of China’s low-altitude economy to life through its newly established consumer drone and agricultural drone zones. Held in Guangzhou from April 15 to May 5 with a record-scale exhibition space, the fair has become a window for Chinese drone enterprises to display their technological strength and expand global cooperation, attracting numerous overseas buyers and highlighting the industry’s diverse application scenarios.

On the opening day, the low-altitude security overall solutions presented by Guangzhou Chengzhi Intelligent Machine Technology Co., Ltd. drew crowds of purchasers. “This police robot dog can move flexibly in complex terrains to efficiently complete reconnaissance, broadcasting and dispersal tasks. This fire-fighting drone can accurately control small fires in forests and high-rises to gain precious rescue time. This emergency drone can provide long-term lighting and high-definition monitoring even in harsh electromagnetic environments,” staff introduced the products in detail to the surrounding buyers.

Abdullah, a buyer from Turkey, took careful notes while listening. “Every product is worth in-depth study,” he said, adding that he intended to select drones suitable for sale in Turkey. Zhang Kai, Vice President of Chengzhi Intelligent, noted that the company’s products have been exported to more than 50 countries and regions, with all core technologies independently developed. “Supported by a complete industrial chain, China’s drone technology is developing rapidly, focusing on segmented markets and accelerating the expansion of application scenarios,” he said.

At the booth of Zhejiang Jikeqiao Intelligent Equipment Co., Ltd., many overseas buyers inquired about the parameters and application scenarios of various portable tethered lighting drones. Hu Kefei, Chief Founder of Jikeqiao, introduced that their self-developed tethered lighting drones are applicable to complex terrains and multiple scenarios, supporting 24-hour unattended operation and automatic charging. “They consume only 0.1 kWh per hour per 1,000 square meters, which is energy-saving and environmentally friendly,” he said, adding they have been widely used in rescue and cultural tourism scenarios.

Agricultural drones also shone at the fair, demonstrating green and intelligent transformation in agricultural production. Shandong Aolan UAV Technology Co., Ltd.’s 50L plant protection drone participated in a flight demonstration on the opening day. Wang Cuicui, General Manager of Aolan, said the drone, with a self-designed frame and power system, could complete spraying 3 hectares of crops in 10 minutes and cover 100 to 150 hectares a day, with functions like break-point respraying and intelligent obstacle avoidance.

Shandong Zhaoyuan Intelligent Technology Co., Ltd., a high-tech enterprise and the world’s first professional cleaning drone developer, has its products sold in over 130 countries. Sun Xiao, its Deputy General Manager, said the company has more than 50 patents and expects over 50% growth in annual trade volume through differentiated products and localized services. As of April 10, 290 leading purchasing enterprises had confirmed their participation in the fair, a 30% year-on-year increase.

China.org.cn reported that the 139th Canton Fair covers 1.55 million square meters with 75,700 booths, a record high. People’s Daily Online noted that the fair has attracted over 32,000 participating enterprises. China Daily stated that Chinese agricultural drones completed work covering more than 173 million hectares in 2024, driving the industry’s green development.