A helicopter service has been launched from Shenzhen North station, allowing travellers to access other parts of the sprawling tech hub in a matter of minutes.
The South China Morning Post reports that the new service is run by the Shenzhen-based Heli-Eastern, operating from a 314-square-metre helipad outside the high-speed railway station.
Heli-Eastern’s Airbus H135 choppers fly to several districts of Shenzhen – connecting Shenzhen North station to the Guangming science park, for example, in just 8 minutes, compared to a 50-minute journey by road.
[See more: High-speed sleeper trains will connect Hong Kong to Beijing and Shanghai]
The flight to Guangming costs 9,800 yuan (US$1,348) for up to six passengers.
Shenzhen is one of several municipalities investing in the so-called “low-altitude economy,” the Post says – referring to air services operating at less than 1,000 metres.
Researchers say the sector could be contributing at least 3 trillion yuan (US$413 billion) to the national economy in a year’s time.
