4 hours to 45 minutes: Sichuan tests eVTOL flying taxis for tourism over mountains and canyons
Certification expected by 2027, the 'Panda' air corridor connects Ya'an and Wolong. Local authorities are betting on low‑altitude economy: Chengdu is already known as the capital of industrial drones, and passenger eVTOLs could be the next step.
As reported by CCTV+, southwest China's Sichuan Province is leading tests of manned electric vertical take‑off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft over complex terrain, aiming to cut costs and boost efficiency. As the low‑altitude economy accelerates, tourism is becoming one of the first real‑world applications.
In April, Aerofugia — a subsidiary of Chinese EV giant Geely Auto — conducted a test flight along the 'Panda' air corridor in Sichuan, linking two famous scenic spots: Ya'an Bifengxia and Wolong Shenshuping. The trip between these two sites usually takes about four hours, but the aircraft cuts travel time to 45 minutes.
Wang Hongxiao, CEO of Xiangyuan General Aviation, said: "By developing exclusive low‑altitude routes in southwest China, we have offered visitors the chance to enjoy unique views of mountains, canyons and local ecosystems from above. Combined with panda conservation and geological education programmes, they have served as a vibrant cultural platform." The rugged mountainous terrain of southwest China creates unique operational challenges, including rapidly changing weather, complex wind conditions and sharp altitude changes — all serious tests for safety and reliability.
Wang Zengwu, Deputy General Manager of Xiangyuan General Aviation, added: "Southwest China has incredibly diverse landscapes: high mountains, deep valleys, major rivers and vast plains. From the air, travellers get a completely different perspective. And thanks to low‑altitude flights, people can spend less time travelling and more time enjoying their destination."
Aerofugia is pushing ahead with certification of its eVTOL technology, widely seen as a promising solution for short‑haul regional air travel. Liang Jun, head of branding at Aerofugia, said: "We expect to obtain type certification around 2027. When it comes to consumer drones, people look to Shenzhen. When it comes to industrial drones, they look to Chengdu. Chengdu has built a solid foundation for aviation manufacturing, engineering and talent development, from commercial aircraft to industrial drones. And with a large consumer market and high tourism demand, the city also offers ideal conditions for future commercialisation of eVTOL aircraft."
eVTOL (electric Vertical Take‑Off and Landing) aircraft are seen as a green alternative to helicopters for urban and regional transport. The 'Panda' air corridor in Sichuan is one of China's first experimental routes for such aircraft. Aerofugia is a Geely subsidiary actively developing the flying car sector. Type certification under aviation standards is a mandatory requirement for commercial passenger operations. Chengdu is already a drone manufacturing hub and may now become a testing ground for eVTOL.
Sichuan's mountains have always been a natural barrier. Today, they are becoming a testing ground for technologies that shorten distances and reshape perceptions of space. Four hours on winding roads — and 45 minutes by air. The difference is not just time, but experience: passengers see landscapes once reserved for birds and climbers. As eVTOLs undergo trials and certification is expected in 2027, Chengdu is already building a reputation not only as a drone capital but as a hub of new mobility. When air taxis become reality, we will look back at this 'Panda' corridor as the starting point — where nature and engineering finally met.
