DAMODA’s Low-Altitude Economy Model: How China’s Drone Shows Are Captivating the World

A New Global Vision in the Skies

“This is a global experience that everyone should have. We are about to bring it to the United States—from north to south, east to west.”
With these words, Adam T. Shaw, CEO of Maverick Drone Systems (USA), captured the excitement that DAMODA’s large-scale drone performances are generating worldwide.

His visit to Chongqing—alongside Brazilian entrepreneur Renato Werner Queiroz and U.S. drone show pioneer John Eric Henry—highlights a remarkable trend: business leaders are flying to China to experience first-hand the future of drone-based cultural entertainment.

The Rise of China’s Drone Show Phenomenon

In July 2025, Mr. Queiroz traveled to China to attend the Guinness World Record challenge of a 10,000-drone performance. 

Shortly after, U.S. partners visited Shenzhen and Chongqing to study DAMODA’s large-scale drone systems first-hand. These visits are far from coincidence. 

In recent years, China’s drone light show industry has surged into global prominence, becoming a powerful driver for cultural tourism and city branding. DAMODA’s resident drone show in Chongqing has set a new benchmark for the sector, combining technology, creativity, and urban identity into one compelling cultural experience.

Chongqing as a Living Case Study

Known as China’s “mountain city,” Chongqing has emerged as a flagship example of how drone shows can transform a city’s night economy. Since April 2025, the world’s largest resident drone performance project has attracted:

• 3.6 million live spectators within two months,
• 1 billion online livestream views,
• Over 10 billion cumulative views across short videos and digital content.

The economic impact is equally impressive: riverside restaurants now report a 70% average occupancy rate, themed hotels reach 80% occupancy, and night-time consumption in core districts has risen by 45% year-on-year. Remarkably, overnight inbound tourism has grown over 600%, helping Chongqing surpass Shanghai to become China’s No.1 consumer city in mid-2025.

This success demonstrates how a “Technology + Culture + City Branding” model can act as a powerful economic engine for urban development.

Technology Meets Global Business Value

Behind these achievements lies DAMODA’s dual advantage of technological innovation and system integration.

• Technological Edge: DAMODA’s V4 system enables millimeter-level positioning, automated cluster charging, and fully autonomous performances. With a reliability rate approaching 99.999%, the system solves key pain points for global clients by ensuring scalability and cost efficiency.
• Institutional Support: Backed by municipal initiatives in cities like Shenzhen and Chongqing, drone shows are integrated into urban tourism strategies—ensuring both sustainability and visibility.
• Commercial Impact: The “traffic–visitor–consumption–brand” cycle has proven its effectiveness, boosting everything from hotels and restaurants to retail and cultural tourism.

From China to the World

DAMODA’s global reach already extends to 50+ countries and regions, including the U.S., Japan, South Korea, and Australia. Beyond technology exports, the company also leads in industry standard-setting, having pioneered the world’s first Drone Formation Performance Safety Standards.

The model is proving replicable: from Kuala Lumpur’s 2025 New Year Drone Show to Vietnam’s 50th Liberation Anniversary celebration, DAMODA is collaborating with local governments and cultural platforms to deliver performances that are locally relevant yet globally recognizable.

As U.S. partner John Henry wrote in Beyond the Skyline: What U.S. Cities Can Learn from Chongqing’s Night Economy and Drone Show Model:
“This is a replicable model. It merges technology, culture, and business into one, delivering measurable impact.”

A New Global Infrastructure for the Night Sky

China’s drone show industry—led by innovators like DAMODA—demonstrates how low-altitude digital media can become a new form of global infrastructure. Each performance is more than just a spectacle of lights in the night sky; it is a symbol of cultural exchange, economic vitality, and international cooperation.

As drone formations illuminate skylines from Asia to the Americas, they carry with them not only beams of light—but also the blueprint of a “China model” transforming into a world model.