Shenzhen Nanshan opens “air taxis”

The Lenovo Houhai Center Heliport and City Terminal, the first Class A elevated heliport in Nanshan District, Shenzhen, was officially opened and went into service on November 28.

The Lenovo Houhai Center Heliport. (Photo: Jinri Nanshan WeChat Account)

The heliport is located in the center of Houhai Headquarters Base Area and launches flights from Shenzhen Bay to Shenzhen Bao'an International Airport. Passengers can travel from Shenzhen Bay to Guangzhou in 25 minutes, and from Shenzhen Bay to Zhuhai in just 10 minutes.

Nanshan Science and Technology Park, along with the Houhai Headquarters Base Area, is one of the most bustling financial hubs in Shenzhen, and even in the wider Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA). Many leading companies have their headquarters here. Heli-Eastern, a major low-altitude general aviation carrier and helicopter service provider in the GBA, therefore cooperated with Lenovo Houhai Center to build a heliport to meet the needs of efficient business commuting. 

In the future, Shenzhen Bay and most airports, CBDs, key enterprises and factories, golf courses and other take-off and landing points in this world-class city cluster will be interconnected.

Additionally, the heliport will operate day and night urban low-altitude sightseeing routes on a regular basis. The departure hall has been designed according to the low-altitude flying needs of business people and ordinary tourists. It has functional areas such as rest, storage, and tea breaks, and provides various high-quality reception services. Passengers can enjoy the broadest view of Shenzhen's amazing cityscape in the shortest time.

Data from the local government shows that there are more than 160 UAV (Unmanned Aerial Vehicle) industry chain companies in Nanshan District, covering major industry chains such as flight control systems (chips), batteries, and motors. Thousands of spare parts needed for a drone can be collected without leaving Nanshan. In 2022, the annual output value of Nanshan's drone industry exceeded 55 billion yuan, making it the core area of the World's Drone Capital.

Nanshan District plans to introduce special support policies for the low-altitude economy. It will provide grants of up to 20 million RMB for new projects, including research, manufacturing, and operation of low-altitude aircraft. Additionally, grants of up to 6 million RMB will be given to enterprises involved in manufacturing core components, developing software, and possessing key technologies.

Reporter: Ariel

Editor: Olivia, Will, James