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Source: People's Republic of China in Russian – People's Republic of China in Russian –
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Source: People's Republic of China – State Council News
Hangzhou, November 11 (Xinhua) — The era of leisurely "citywalks" as the primary way to explore megacities is fading. Today's Chinese tourists, like visitors to Moscow who admire the city from the observation decks of Moscow City or the Ivan the Great Bell Tower, crave more than just a change of perspective—they want to transcend their usual boundaries. Their passion for extreme experiences and thrills has led to a fundamentally new travel philosophy, elevating tourism to a whole new level. The measured pace of walking along the pavement has been replaced by the "Cityfly" trend—literally, "flying over the city."
A VIEW FROM THE HEIGHTS: PERSONAL EXPERIENCE
Following in the footsteps of the previously famous Citywalk, Cityfly, which includes paragliding, skydiving, and helicopter tours, is quickly becoming popular among young Chinese travelers, reflecting changing consumer preferences amid the country's booming low-altitude economy—a burgeoning sector that encompasses air taxis, drones, tourist flights, and more.
On a cool autumn morning, Shanghai resident Li Duo, in her early 20s, took to the skies for the first time on a paraglider, paired with an instructor. The flight took off from the Wanwei Paragliding Base on Mount Moganshan in Deqing County, Zhejiang Province, eastern China.
"It was absolutely breathtaking as I soared above the bamboo groves and tea plantations, the wind rushing in my ears," Li Do shared her vivid impressions after landing. "It opened up a completely new perspective for me and allowed me to take some truly unique photographs."
In May of this year, as part of the 15th China Tourism Day in Hangzhou, capital of Zhejiang Province, several facilities, including the Xianghu Lake helicopter base, the Yun'anshan Mountain paragliding base, and the Jiande Aviation City, joined forces to create a new tourism product, "Hangzhou Flight," which includes sightseeing flights over landmarks, short-term shuttle services, and customized tours.
A Hangzhou resident surnamed Zhang, who flew over the city for the first time, exclaimed: “From above, the Qiantang River looks like a silk ribbon piercing the glittering metropolis, and West Lake and Mount Baoshishan are visible as if in the palm of your hand!”
GROWING POPULARITY: FACTS AND FIGURES
In Zhejiang Province, low-altitude tourism is evolving from a niche hobby into a popular mass entertainment. During the eight-day National Day and Mid-Autumn Festival holidays (October 1–8), Huzhou City, which administers Deqing County, launched 16 low-altitude air routes connecting seven key tourist sites. This initiative attracted significant numbers of tourists.
Yan Aiping, manager of the Wanwei Paragliding Base, noted a significant increase in visitor numbers: while in 2019, when the base first opened, there were less than 10,000 people per year, this figure now exceeds 100,000.
This trend is observed across the country. In Sanya, a popular resort city in Hainan Province (southern China), skydiving has become one of the most popular activities. Zhang Enming, manager of the local skydiving base, reported that in the first quarter of 2025, the base's client flow reached approximately 6,000 people, a 20 percent increase compared to the same period last year.
According to official data, Sanya's low-altitude tourism sector served approximately 287,000 tourists in the first half of 2024, representing a 112 percent year-on-year increase. During the reporting period, the sector's revenue exceeded 730 million yuan (approximately $102.9 million), creating 2,300 jobs. Steady growth continues this year.
RUNWAY: PROSPECTS AND CHALLENGES
Zhao Yuehua, an expert at the Aviation Industry Research Center at the China Development Observer, attributes the growing popularity of air tourism to the rapid development of China's low-altitude economy. This has led to lower flight costs and increased public interest in this form of entertainment.
According to him, the cost of low-altitude flights has dropped significantly: from approximately 3,000 yuan per person 10 years ago to approximately 1,000 yuan today. This has made such aerial adventures much more accessible to the general public.
The development of China's low-altitude economy received a major boost after it was included in the government work report published in March 2024, where it was identified as a new driver of economic growth. The Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) estimates that the market size of China's low-altitude economy will reach 1.5 trillion yuan by 2025, and exceed 3.5 trillion yuan by 2035.
Data shows that there are currently 89,000 active low-tech businesses in China. Of these, approximately 11,700 were registered in the first five months of this year, representing a 220 percent year-on-year increase and already exceeding the total number of registrations for the entire previous year.
However, behind this rapid development lie challenges in the areas of safety and other aspects that cannot be ignored. An industry insider acknowledges that low-altitude tourism is highly dependent on weather, terrain, and seasonality, while airspace clearance and flight safety monitoring remain key constraints for the industry.
According to Wang Xiaoyu, a specially invited expert from the World Tourism Cities Federation (WTCF), ensuring the sustainable development of low-altitude tourism requires adhering to "professionalism and safety." Access permit standards must be clearly defined at all stages, from product design to operational assessment.
Cityfly isn't just a change of transport and a transition from feet to wings. It's a clear sign of the transformation of consumer consciousness and China's technological breakthrough. Tourists are transforming from street observers into active participants in the air, redefining the very essence of travel. And while some admire the views from the Ivan the Great Bell Tower, others are already soaring through the skies, rediscovering their country from a bird's eye view.
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