STRUCTURAL CHARACTERISTICS AND INFLUENCING FACTORS OF CHINA'S LOWALTITUDE ECONOMY INDUSTRIAL NETWORK

CHEN Xiao-fei; LI Yi-hang; HU Yong-gui; MIAO Lin-sen

doi:10.13959/j.issn.1003-2398.2026.03.009

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HUMAN GEOGRAPHY ›› 2026, Vol. 41 ›› Issue (3) : 89-97,192. DOI: 10.13959/j.issn.1003-2398.2026.03.009

ECONOMY

STRUCTURAL CHARACTERISTICS AND INFLUENCING FACTORS OF CHINA'S LOWALTITUDE ECONOMY INDUSTRIAL NETWORK

CHEN Xiao-fei^1,2, LI Yi-hang^1,2, HU Yong-gui^1,2, MIAO Lin-sen^1,2

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Abstract

The low-altitude economy is exerting a significant influence on China's existing industrial landscape, yet its industrial network structure and driving factors remain a "black box." This study compiles data and information from China's low-altitude economy companies listed on the A-share, Hong Kong stock, and New Third Board markets, selecting representative enterprises established before December 31, 2024. Based on headquarters-branch linkages, we construct a low-altitude economy industrial network in China and investigate its spatial characteristics and influencing factors. The findings reveal that: 1) The spatial distribution of China's low-altitude economy enterprises exhibits a distinct "core-periphery" structure, with functional specialization across different segments of the value chain. 2) The topology of the inter-city networks formed by these linkages varies significantly by function. The R&D network is polycentric in structure, reliant on knowledge flows and collaborative innovation between high-tier cities possessing robust scientific capabilities and talent pools. 3) The co-evolution of technology and institutions is the central driver of network formation. Technological proximity and organizational proximity facilitate knowledge exchange and collaborative agglomeration, while policy guidance and environmental variations shape the overall network architecture.

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low-altitude economy / industrial network / headquarters-branch linkages / QAP

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CHEN Xiao-fei, LI Yi-hang, HU Yong-gui, MIAO Lin-sen. STRUCTURAL CHARACTERISTICS AND INFLUENCING FACTORS OF CHINA'S LOWALTITUDE ECONOMY INDUSTRIAL NETWORK[J]. HUMAN GEOGRAPHY. 2026, 41(3): 89-97,192 https://doi.org/10.13959/j.issn.1003-2398.2026.03.009

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