Remember Longhua Airport? If you don't, fair enough – it's been out of action for decades.

But this historic airport right in the heart of Xuhui District is making a serious comeback.

And not just for show. It's getting a full upgrade and will soon be open to the public with real flights, drones, and even flying taxis. Shanghai just keeps raising the bar.

From Forgotten Landmark to Flying High Again

Once East Asia's largest civil aviation airport, Longhua, faded into the background as Hongqiao and Pudong took over.

Its runway became a park path, and its hangar became an art museum. However, in 2017, it was reactivated for small aircraft.

Now, it's set for a full transformation into a Class A general aviation airport, which means public flights, tourism routes and more. It's not just coming back – it's coming back big.

2024: The Year Shanghai's Low Sky Took Off

This year has officially kicked off what China calls the "low-altitude economy" – all the action happening below 1,000 meters in the air.

Longhua Airport is at the heart of it, fueling scenes like:

• Nightly 3D drone light shows over the West Bund

• Helicopter rides from Longhua to Lujiazui in just 10 minutes

• Seafood deliveries flown straight from the coast

• Trial flights connecting Shanghai to nearby cities like Jinhua and Kunshan

The future isn't coming – it's already in the air.

By 2027: A Full Aviation Hub in the Middle of Town

Longhua isn't just upgrading the runway.

By 2027, it'll feature a full business complex, plus a low-altitude air traffic management system co-developed with Huawei and the Shanghai Meteorological Bureau.

Think GPS and traffic lights for everything flying under 1,000 meters – drones, helicopters, flying cars, you name it.

We're Flying Ahead – But with Restrictions

All this excitement comes with real-world challenges:

• Airspace is tightly controlled
• Flying cars (eVTOLs, or electronic vertical take-off and landing) can only operate in super-limited zones
• Flight requests go through long, multi-agency approvals

And with millions of low-altitude flights expected daily in the future, things could get chaotic unless airspace management catches up fast.

What the Future Could Look Like

Experts say low-altitude flying will change life in big ways:

• Faster emergency response
• Drone delivery everywhere
• Easy tourism flights from city to suburbs
• Business travel without traffic jams
• A new industry powered by artificial intelligence, clean energy, and smart cities

But getting there will take new infrastructure, updated laws, and a shift in public perception.

Shanghai is Betting Big on the Sky

This isn't just about planes or tech – it's about building the future of cities. And Shanghai's move to bring Longhua Airport back online is a strong sign that the city's ready to lead that future.

So next time you're walking along the West Bund and see a fleet of drones light up the sky, just remember – you're not watching a show. You're watching the next chapter of city life take flight.