Drones improve orange transport in mountains
2026-06-29 20:06:45
By Yan Wanqin.
For generations, transporting navel oranges from Zigui's steep slopes posed a major logistical challenge. Now, drones are providing the solution.
On June 25, at Zigui County's first agricultural drone skills competition, a bucket of water was hoisted by a drone, flown over 100 meters of rugged hillside, and returned to its starting point without spilling a drop. The crowd erupted in cheers as Xiang Zixi, a 30-year-old drone pilot from Guizhou Town, completed the challenge.
For generations, transporting navel oranges from Zigui's steep slopes posed a major logistical challenge. Now, drones are providing the solution.
On June 25, at Zigui County's first agricultural drone skills competition, a bucket of water was hoisted by a drone, flown over 100 meters of rugged hillside, and returned to its starting point without spilling a drop. The crowd erupted in cheers as Xiang Zixi, a 30-year-old drone pilot from Guizhou Town, completed the challenge.
The agricultural drone skills competition in Zigui County. Photo by Zhou Shiwei.
The event also marked the launch of the Zigui County Agricultural Drone Technology Association, giving over 1,000 local drone operators a formal organization of their own.
Unlike traditional speed contests, this competition focused on real-world challenges in mountain farming. It featured written safety tests, pesticide-spraying demonstrations, and hoisting competitions. The hoisting event was the day's highlight, drawing the largest crowd.
Drone operators participate in the agricultural drone skills competition. Photo by Zhou Shiwei.Xiang, who left a career in the beauty industry in Wuhan two years ago to return home and seize the "drone opportunity," placed third among 28 contestants.
"In the past, we carried oranges down the mountain on our backs. Now, technology does it for us. Our navel oranges will never be stranded by the mountains again," she said.
Zigui's steep terrain has long made navel oranges transportation a bottleneck. Today, the county is addressing the challenge with technology. With over 1,000 agricultural drones now in operation, more than 70 percent of the county’s annual 600,000-ton navel orange harvest is transported by drone. In 2025, Zigui was named one of Hubei's first pilot zones for the low-altitude economy.
A contestant prepares her drone for the competition. Photo by Zhou Shiwei.Looking ahead, Zigui plans to deepen partnerships with DJI and other industry leaders. It also aims to integrate drone applications with citrus production, tourism, and emergency response. The ultimate goal is to become a national model for low-altitude economy development in mountainous regions.
Hu Xingjun contributed to this story.
Hu Xingjun contributed to this story.
