From aerial sightseeing to "sky weddings", China is exploring new and innovative ways to develop its bourgeoning low-altitude economy which features manned or unmanned aviation services at low elevations.
Shanghai launched its first helicopter tour service over the Huangpu River on Tuesday, the first day of the seven-day National Day holiday.
Starting from Xuhui District in downtown Shanghai, to Lujiazui, one of the city’s financial hubs, the round-trip journey is about 24 kilometers, with a flight time of around ten minutes.
"The reservation volume is quite good. Many people book the aerial tour online, and others buy tickets at the airport after seeing our helicopters or hearing their roaring sound from the sky. We receive dozens of customer groups each day," said Cao Xintian, operator of the helicopter tours over the Huangpu River.
During the trip, tourists can not only admire the beautiful scenery of the Huangpu River from the sky, but see many iconic buildings and scenic areas, including the Shanghai Expo Cultural Park, the Bund, and the Oriental Pearl Tower.
"My son has a strong interest in modern transport, including helicopters and high-speed trains. This program allows him to see the changes of Shanghai from a very unique perspective and appreciate the beautiful scenery along the most classic tourist route in Shanghai. I think this helps both his growth and academic study," said a tourist named Zhang Nan.
A group wedding party in Zhongyang County in north China's Shanxi Province for 30 new couples also featured a helicopter tour for the newlyweds.
Flying over the Lvliang Mountains with a bird's-eye view of the county's magnificent landscape will ensure a memorable wedding day for these couples.
The "sky wedding" was sponsored by the Beijing-based Beihang University, a multi-disciplinary and research-oriented university focusing on aeronautical and astronautical engineering, which is exploring ways to develop the low-altitude economy in the country.
The low-altitude economy is an emerging sector in China whose scale is expected to reach 2 trillion yuan (about 285 billion U.S. dollars) by 2030.
Aerial sightseeing, "sky wedding" show China's low-altitude economy taking off
Yalu River estuary in northeast China's Liaoning Province is a key biodiversity conservation area in China providing habitats for migratory birds and dozens of endangered species.
Situated at the northern edge of the Yellow Sea Ecoregion, the Yalu River estuary in Dandong, Liaoning Province is a crucial stopover site for birds migrating along the East Asian-Australasian Flyway which spans more than 20 countries and regions from the Arctic to Southeast Asia and Australasia.
Staff at the Dandong Yalu River Estuary National Nature Reserve are conducting research on the quantity, species, and spatial distribution of migratory waterbirds as they arrive here during their autumn migration.
"By doing these surveys we can understand the waterbirds' migration patterns, food chains and food distribution. We can also track these birds via satellite to monitor their migration routes and timings within the migratory area," said Ma Li from the nature reserve.
Ma added that the reserve has conducted surveys on northbound waterbirds for 26 consecutive years. The number of migratory birds being surveyed can reach 60,000 to 80,000 during the autumn migration.
As well as being a stopover site for migratory birds, Yalu River estuary also contributes to biodiversity conservation by providing vital habitats for endangered species within the region.
Preserving the typical coastal wetland landscape of East Asia, the Dandong Yalu River Estuary National Nature Reserve accommodates most species of the Liaodong Peninsula in northeast China, thus maintaining the richness and diversity of wildlife.
The nature reserve is home to 453 species of plants, 324 species of birds, more than 80 species of nektons, amphibians, reptiles and mammals.
"In terms of global biodiversity conservation, the Yalu River Estuary Wetland in Dandong supports the survival and development of nearly 20 rare and endangered species in the world. Therefore, as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, this location holds significant importance," said Lei Guangchun, a professor from Beijing Forestry University.
The Yalu River estuary is one of the Migratory Bird Sanctuaries along the Coast of the Yellow Sea-Bohai Gulf of China (Phase II) which was included in UNESCO's World Heritage List on July 26.
Migratory bird habitat in China’s Liaoning bears significance for biodiversity conservation
