In the ancient resort town of Shexiang in Guizhou Province, China, an awe-inspiring spectacle unfolded as 500 drones adorned with twinkling lights took to the sky, creating intricate patterns resembling a dragon, a phoenix, and a lotus. Tourists marveled at the display, capturing the breathtaking scene on their cell phones.
The drone fleets were commissioned by a local tourism company responsible for managing the resort. Yuan Yuan, the chairperson of the company, revealed that the performance, held four times last month, drew a record-breaking 100,000 tourists when it debuted on January 18th. The event saw a surge in revenue across various businesses, with even small stalls like a squid barbecue stand witnessing a tenfold increase in sales.
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Long Lipin, the manager of Digital Intelligence Culture, a drone performance company based in Guiyang, shared that his company has organized 12 drone fleet shows since last August, generating a total business revenue of 1.55 million yuan by the end of 2023.
The popularity of drone fleet performances in China has been steadily rising, with applications ranging from official celebrations like the Hangzhou Asian Games’ opening ceremony to commercial promotions, birthday parties, and even marriage proposals. Lu Lingyue, the general manager of a leading drone performance company in Jiangxi Province, noted a significant increase in demand, with the company organizing 175 fleet shows in 2023 alone, double the number from the previous year.
Beyond corporate and university events, drone fleet performances are increasingly sought after by individuals for personal celebrations such as birthdays and marriage proposals. Enthusiastic fans have also utilized drone fleets as a unique way to express their admiration for idols, as demonstrated by a massive birthday celebration organized for Chinese singer and actor Tan Jianci in Hengdian, Zhejiang Province, featuring 500 drones creating elaborate messages and visual displays.
The growing prominence of drone fleet performances has caught the attention of policymakers, with the Central Economic Work Conference in December 2023 emphasizing the importance of nurturing strategic emerging industries like the low-altitude economy. The Chinese government has taken proactive steps to regulate and support the industry’s development, implementing regulations for the management of unmanned aerial vehicles to ensure orderly growth and systematic development.
