On May 25, the 20th Western China International Fair opened in Chengdu. This year, the Zigong Pavilion, located in Hall 3, spans an area of 1,200 square meters. The city showcased over 60 enterprises and more than 130 exhibits, leveraging its iconic reputation as the "Hometown of Jiang Jie, the Millennium Salt Capital, the Land of Dinosaurs, and the Lantern City of China" to present a comprehensive display of industrial transformation and technological innovation.  

Zigong Pavilion [Photo by Liao Zhiquan]

The Zigong exhibition area drew significant attention for its advancements in new energy and low-altitude economy. The Volant VE25-100 eVTOL, featuring a compound-wing design, boasts a range of 400 kilometers and a cruising speed of 235 km/h. With a capacity for five passengers, it is the world's largest takeoff-weight manned aircraft, offering leading cabin space. It will be applied in the urban air mobility and emergency rescue operations. Meanwhile, Zonergy Corporation showcased its sodium-ion battery series, designed for energy storage and specialized vehicles. The 175Ah aluminum-shell battery can operate stably in temperatures ranging from -60°C to 60°C, with a cycle life exceeding 6,000 charges.

Low-altitude Economy Exhibition Booth [Photo by Liao Zhiquan]

The "Ultra-Cool Girl" themed lantern installation by Zigong Haitian Culture [Photo by Liao Zhiquan]

The "Ultra-Cool Girl" lantern set by Zigong Haitian Culture combined cyber aesthetics with traditional craftsmanship, with 12 distinctive lanterns from different countries suspended above, symbolizing cultural exchanges along the Belt and Road. Intangible cultural heritage products such as tie-dyed silk scarves and Gong fan screens revitalized traditional techniques with modern designs, attracting numerous visitors. The animatronic dinosaur zone, featuring dynamic models and interactive technology, recreated the prehistoric charm of the "Land of Dinosaurs," becoming a popular spot for family activities.  

Children interacting with animatronic dinosaurs [Photo by Liao Zhiquan] 

Zigong has leveraged national platforms such as the Foreign Trade Transformation and Upgrading Base and the Cultural Export Base to align its industries with global standards. In 2024, lantern exhibitions toured 23 countries, generating cultural export revenues of $77.4651 million. The city’s aviation industrial park hosts over 60 drone companies, with products used in emergency rescue and meteorological observation, contributing to an annual output value exceeding 6 billion yuan. Furthermore, Zigong has deepened its integration into the Chengdu-Chongqing Economic Circle initiative. Through mutual recognition of administrative services and collaborative industrial development with Chengdu and Chongqing, the city has significantly enhanced regional coordination, supported by the acceleration of infrastructure connectivity projects. (By Jiang Zhuolin)