Hot Air Balloons Help Soar the Low-Altitude Economy, Refreshing a Three Gorges Town

„I’ve never seen Xiao Jia Chong so lively!“ said a 76-year-old villager recently in Anjing Village, Shuanglong Town, Wushan County, located in the heart of the Three Gorges Reservoir area. Since hot air balloons began flying from the village, tourists have been visiting almost every day.

This liveliness is not confined to Anjing Village. A local tourism and social media operator in Wushan County said he received a call early that morning from tourists in Hubei province wanting to come to Wushan to ride hot air balloons, see the red leaves of the Three Gorges, taste citrus fruits, and visit Yutou Bay (a scenic inlet of the Lesser Three Gorges visible from Anjing Village, named for its resemblance to a fish head). In recent months, he receives multiple such calls daily from tourists inquiring from Chongqing’s city center, Sichuan, Hubei, Hunan, Beijing, and other places.

„Ignition, one, two, three, lift off!“ At the tethered hot air balloon launch site in Xiao Jia Chong, staff operate the equipment, leading tourists to enjoy views of the Lesser Three Gorges, forested mountains, and red foliage. The on-site manager stated the project has three professional pilots and several local villagers serving as ground crew, capable of operating two balloons for takeoff and landing simultaneously.

„After years of development, hot air ballooning has become a relatively mature sport in China,“ said the president of the Chongqing Aero Sports Association. In Anjing Village, tethered balloons can operate smoothly except during heavy rain or strong winds. The grand mountains and waters of Chongqing give this activity unique charm, and the vigorous development of the low-altitude economy in recent years has injected new momentum. In 2025, the Chongqing Aero Sports Association designated Anjing Village as a „Low-Altitude Flight Demonstration Camp.“

According to statistics from the company operating the tethered hot air balloon project in Anjing Village, since operations began in September 2025, the project has carried over 2,000 passengers.

„Our hot air balloons can fly both day and night,“ said a local official. Besides enjoying the natural scenery of the Three Gorges from the air, tourists can also participate in local music festivals, art festivals, and other events. At night, the balloons illuminated by lights and flames offer a unique spectacle, attracting many people to take photos.

The village Party branch secretary stated that the tethered hot air balloons have not only brought tourist traffic to the village but have also attracted many young people to return home for employment and entrepreneurship.

A former peacock farmer from Anjing Village, who had been working away from home, recently returned and rode the tethered balloon with his family. He expressed his intention to stay in the village, resume peacock farming, and start a peacock tourism project nearby.

„We hope this liveliness can continue,“ said the town Party committee secretary. In the future, the town will continue to improve the „low-altitude + culture & tourism + rural“ model, creating distinctive low-altitude tourism, allowing the benefits of development to reach more villagers, and injecting lasting momentum into rural revitalization through new quality productive forces.

Three Gorges

The Three Gorges is a scenic and historically significant canyon region along the Yangtze River in China, comprising the Qutang, Wu, and Xiling Gorges. For centuries, it has been celebrated in Chinese art and literature for its dramatic natural beauty, but its modern history is dominated by the massive Three Gorges Dam project, completed in 2006, which created a vast reservoir, altered the landscape, and displaced over a million people.

Three Gorges Reservoir area

The Three Gorges Reservoir area is a vast region along the Yangtze River in China, created by the construction of the Three Gorges Dam, the world’s largest hydroelectric power station. Its formation, completed in 2008, submerged numerous towns, archaeological sites, and landscapes, leading to the relocation of over a million residents. The area represents a monumental feat of modern engineering with profound social, environmental, and historical impacts on China.

Lesser Three Gorges

The Lesser Three Gorges are a scenic stretch of the Daning River, a tributary of the Yangtze in China’s Chongqing Municipality. Historically, the river’s cliffs were lined with ancient plank walkways, used for towing boats and transporting salt, evidence of human activity dating back over two millennia. Today, it is renowned for its narrow, crystal-clear channels, towering limestone cliffs, and lush greenery, often explored by smaller tourist boats.

Yutou Bay

Yutou Bay is a scenic coastal area located on the eastern side of China’s Hainan Island, near the city of Wanning. Historically, it was a quiet fishing village but has gained prominence in recent decades as a major hub for surfing and coastal tourism, thanks to its consistent waves and natural beauty. The bay’s development reflects Hainan’s broader transformation into an international tropical destination.

Anjing Village

Anjing Village is a historic settlement located in the coastal region of Fujian province, China, known for its well-preserved traditional Minnan (Southern Fujian) architecture. Its history dates back over 700 years to the Song Dynasty, when it was established as a fishing and trading village. Today, it is recognized for its ancient stone houses, ancestral temples, and intricate wood carvings that reflect the region’s maritime culture.

Shuanglong Town

Shuanglong Town is a historic water town located in Zhejiang Province, China, known for its well-preserved Ming and Qing dynasty architecture and intricate canal system. Its history dates back over 1,300 years, serving as an important commercial hub along the ancient Grand Canal. Today, it is a popular cultural tourism destination where visitors can experience traditional Chinese riverine life and historic landmarks.

Wushan County

Wushan County is a county-level administrative region located in Chongqing Municipality, China, situated at the scenic entrance to the Three Gorges on the Yangtze River. It is historically significant as part of the ancient Ba culture and a key area along the river trade route, with human activity dating back thousands of years. Today, it is renowned for its dramatic natural landscapes, including the famous Lesser Three Gorges, and the archaeological site of Longgupo, where hominin fossils dubbed „Wushan Man“ were discovered.

Chongqing

Chongqing is a major metropolis in southwestern China, historically serving as a wartime capital during the Second Sino-Japanese War (1937-1945). Today, it is renowned as a sprawling megacity and a key economic hub, famous for its dramatic mountainous setting, hotpot cuisine, and the confluence of the Yangtze and Jialing Rivers.