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An AS700 civil manned airship arrives in Shaoxing, East China's Zhejiang province, on Dec 22. [Photo provided to ezhejiang.gov.cn]

The sky over Shaoxing, Zhejiang province, was graced by a "big white whale" gliding through the air on Dec 22, 2024.

That vision was the AS700, a civil manned airship developed by the Special Aircraft Research Institute of the Aviation Industry Corporation of China.

The AS700 is a trailblazer as China's first manned airship designed and built independently according to airworthiness regulations, boasting full intellectual property rights. There are only three of these airships in the country that are primarily used for tourism, aerial advertising, emergency rescue, and cargo transport.

The development of the AS700 began in August 2018, with the primary goal of meeting the growing demand for aerial sightseeing tours.

Powered by piston engines, the airship has a maximum takeoff weight of 4.15 metric tons and can reach speeds of up to 100 kilometers per hour. It can accommodate one pilot and nine passengers, covering distances of up to 700 kilometers and remaining airborne for up to 10 hours.

This year, Shaoxing has been developing its low-altitude economy, exploring various low-altitude applications. The introduction of the airship will further expand local application scenarios, offering residents and tourists a new perspective of the city.

The low-altitude economy uses lower airspace for activities such as flights, air tourism, passenger transport, general aviation services, and scientific research and education.