The 2026 Jiangsu City Drone League and the Guannan Drone Flight Services Conference were held in Guannan, Lianyungang, from May 30 to 31. Themed “Pursuing Dreams in the Low-Altitude Skies: Smart Competition in Guannan”, the event brought together more than 420 experts, academicians, industry representatives, corporate executives, as well as competing teams from 13 cities across the province, to explore new pathways for the development of the low-altitude economy.

Under the guidance of the Aviation and Radio Model Sports Management Center of the General Administration of Sport of China, China Aviation Sport Association, Jiangsu Provincial Administration of Sport, Jiangsu Provincial Sport Federation, and Jiangsu Provincial Department of Culture and Tourism, the event was jointly hosted by Jiangsu Provincial Aviation Sport Association, Xinhua Daily Media Group, Jiangsu Broadcasting Corporation, and Guannan County People’s Government.

A creative drone show and a drone basketball match were staged at the opening ceremony. Guannan County Drone Flight Services Conference was convened during the event. Industry experts delivered keynote speeches on the safe and secure development of the low-altitude economy. Companies including Xingjihang (Jiangsu) Technology Co., Ltd. unveiled a supply list of scenario-based applications of drones while Guannan County People’s Government released a demand list of scenario-based applications for the low-altitude economy. The precise dovetailing like this between government and businesses helps to pave the way for industrial project implementation and technological cooperation.

The drone competition was exceptionally lively, with teams from all the 13 prefecture-level cities vying in drone racing, basketball, football, and other events. It is learnt that this year’s league adopts a multi-stage points system. Spanning from May to November, the event calendar comprises five to six regional legs, with the year-end championship title decided by the cumulative points of the competing teams.