In the special series "Above the Peaks," CGTN travels through southwest China to find out how the low-altitude economy is reshaping the country's economy. In this episode, they head to Pengzhou in Sichuan Province where mountains, weather, and technology test the future of flight. Drones are not just flying over landscapes, they're learning how to operate within them.

 

In the mountains of southwest China, drones aren't just flying for show. They're spotting fires, mapping roads, delivering meals, and quietly becoming part of daily life.

 

 "I'm now at the Pengzhou Smart Governance Center, which collects real-time data on the city's people, vehicles, locations, resources and events, acting as the city's smart brain."

 

ZHANG GUOJUN, Deputy Operations General Manager, Sichuan Zongheng Yaoyao Technology (JOUAV Group) "This is an application built for official administration. It shows real-time airspace conditions, tracks equipment numbers and distribution, and monitors task progress. One case I remember clearly, during a routine patrol, a fire hotspot was detected. The emergency command center immediately issued an alert, different departments were activated, coordinated on the ground and the fire was quickly brought under control."

 

And feeding this "brain" is a growing fleet of low-altitude aircraft flying across the city and deep into the mountains.

 

ZHANG GUOJUN, Deputy Operations General Manager, Sichuan Zongheng Yaoyao Technology (JOUAV Group) "This is the latest generation from JOUAV, the Kunlun P200 drone hangar system. It's an all-in-one design with a swappable battery system, allowing 24-hour continuous operation. In Pengzhou alone, 10 of these units have already been deployed."

 

Onboard equipment is matched to task. Some drones scan mountains and roads. Others monitor disaster risks or inspect remote areas difficult for people to reach. For a mountainous city like Pengzhou, low-altitude operations aren't just faster. They help the city run more smoothly.

 

But Pengzhou is more than just a smart city. It's also a giant testing ground for the low-altitude industry. Within the city limits, the elevation rises from around 400 meters to nearly 4,800 meters above sea level. This creates ideal conditions for testing aircraft in complex mountain environments. But as I was getting excited about trying an aircraft myself.

 

 "Well, it's pouring right now. And just few minutes ago, the weather is very hot and sunny. The weather condition is also a big challenge in the mountainous area for the low-altitude operations."

 

NI FENG'AN, Director, Low-Altitude Economy Service Dept., Sichuan Xiangpeng Zhihang Technology "If it suddenly rains heavily during a flight, the drone can still complete its mission. But it may not be able to take off again for the return trip. We get a lot of rain here in summer, so it's also a real-world test of how well the drones can handle wet conditions."

 

And maybe that's exactly the point of a testing ground like this. To expose aircraft to every possible challenge and solve those problems before large-scale deployment.

 

ZHANG ZHICHEN, Deputy Section Chief, Low-Altitude Economy Section, Pengzhou Transportation Bureau "Going forward, we're focusing on two main directions. First, leveraging our national-level testing base to strengthen flight trials, verification and inspection services. Second, in line with China's growing focus on low-altitude safety, we're working with Amap to build an integrated low-altitude system, including route planning and flight services. The goal is to develop a comprehensive low-altitude flight service platform, making operations across the region more efficient and safer."

 

From tourism and agriculture to public services and emergency response, low-altitude aviation is steadily becoming part of everyday life. Across the mountains of southwest China, it's helping people overcome the challenges of distance, terrain and access. What was once a vision of the future is now taking shape in the skies above us. 

 

Edited by Zhang Yuanlin
Source: CGTN