Zigong High-Tech Industrial Park. Photo by Song Ziyi Volant eVTOL aircraft. Provided by Sichuan Volant Commercial Aircraft Co., Ltd. Dongfang Boiler's serpentine tube digital-intelligent factory. Provided by Dongfang Boiler. Jiushi intelligent unmanned vehicles on the road in Zigong. Provided by Jiushi (Suzhou) Intelligent Technology Co., Ltd.

In the winter at Shenhai Well in Zigong, Peng Guiqiang, a "post-90s" salt worker in a traditional mandarin jacket, scooped up a ladle of salt with a smile for tourists: "See? This is how Zigong well salt is made." Outside the well, a futuristic Jiushi unmanned vehicle glided past, drawing curious glances.

From brine to a full industrial chain of "salt—basic chemicals—fine chemicals—fluorosilicone new materials," Zigong now ranks first in China and second globally in fluororubber production capacity. The city seamlessly blends tradition with the future, transitioning from conventional machinery to drones, unmanned vehicles, and AI. How did Zigong achieve such an industrial leap?

The answer lies in its strategic focus: green leadership in energy-saving and environmental protection equipment, breakthroughs in sodium-ion batteries for new energy, dominance in fluorosilicone materials, and the takeoff of low-altitude aviation. Traditional industries are revitalized, emerging sectors cluster into chains, and future industries break new ground.

Zigong has steadfastly pursued its "Industrial Strong City" strategy, integrating into the Chengdu-Chongqing economic circle and building a "4+3" modern industrial system centered on four pillar industries and three potential growth sectors. This has allowed new quality productive forces to take root and flourish.

In the first three quarters of 2025, Zigong's industrial added value above designated size grew by 15.9% year-on-year, 8.8 percentage points higher than the provincial average. This success stems from years of industrial restructuring. During the 14th Five-Year Plan period, Zigong attracted over 600 industrial projects with planned investments exceeding 300 billion yuan, completed 404 key projects, and maintained double-digit industrial investment growth for four consecutive years—ranking among the top in Sichuan.

This salt-born industrial city is now charging toward an innovative, high-quality future.

**Smart Transformation Leads Traditional Industries to New Life** At Dongfang Boiler's serpentine tube digital-intelligent factory—the first of its kind in China—the hum of automated machines replaces manual labor. Unmanned production lines and glass-enclosed control rooms dominate the scene.

"Tasks like material preparation, welding, and pipe bending previously required 12 workers; now just seven suffice, boosting efficiency by 30% and reducing labor intensity," said Li Yajun, a team leader who rose from the technical ranks.

Dongfang Boiler exemplifies Zigong's industrial upgrade. Through a mobile app, production manager Zhong Zhengbin dispatches tasks, and smart systems handle material delivery, weighing, and transport. "All six workshops are digitized, leading the nation in smart transformation. Next, we’ll integrate AI for even smarter management," he added.

Zigong has steered traditional machinery toward energy-saving, high-end equipment manufacturing. Projects like Dongfang Boiler’s intelligent factory and Yunji Group’s eco-friendly conveyor base set industry benchmarks. Since the 14th Five-Year Plan, Zigong has prioritized smart, green, and integrated upgrades, earning national recognition for digital design and energy monitoring. The city also added six provincial-level specialized industrial clusters, including Dayu Seals' smart factory and Yanjin’s pump-valve manufacturing hub.

Beyond this, Zigong fosters synergy between salt/chemical, natural gas, and new energy sectors, accelerates R&D for import substitution, and rejuvenates food and beverage industries.

**Chaining Strengths: "Made in Zigong" Goes Global** At Zigong Aviation Industrial Park, Volant Commercial Aircraft assembles its new production line. "Parts nationwide converge here for final assembly. Post-launch, we’ll produce one eVTOL every 10 days and conduct test flights locally," said Tang Wei, deputy general manager.

As a key hub for Sichuan’s low-altitude economy, the park hosts over 60 firms, including AVIC Chengfei and China UAV, covering drone manufacturing, composites, and additive manufacturing.

In May, Volant unveiled its Ve25-100 eVTOL—Sichuan’s first—garnering industry attention. With orders exceeding 1,900 units (worth 47.5 billion yuan) from giants like China Southern Airlines, Volant is soaring.

Zigong’s cluster strategy has birthed one national and one provincial advanced manufacturing cluster, five emerging industrial tracks, and the title of "China’s Green Fluorine Capital." Its high-efficiency boilers lead globally, with innovations in clean combustion and biomass energy.

In sodium/lithium batteries, PV, and hydrogen, Zigong nurtures firms like Jianergy and China Blue, and hosts Sichuan’s first sodium battery storage project. Its fluorine materials park pioneered the world’s first trifluoromethane conversion tech, earning a spot in China’s top low-carbon innovations.

**Driverless Tech: Precision Algorithms Shape the Future** At Jiushi’s Zigong plant, rows of unmanned vehicles await delivery. Each undergoes rigorous "driving tests" for slopes, rough terrain, and gates. "Our self-driving tech, with multi-sensor fusion and proprietary algorithms, ensures safety," said Zhang Yi, Jiushi’s regional head.

Deployed across Zigong’s logistics, healthcare, and sanitation sectors, Jiushi aims to produce 3,000 units this year and 20,000 next, serving Southwest China.

Zigong also pioneers AI data labeling, hosting Baidu and Tencent, and produces two-thirds of Baidu Maps’ lane-level navigation data nationwide. Firms like Ubtech and Jiushi are poised to kickstart Zigong’s robotics industry by 2025.

Additionally, Zigong is building smart terminal and display chains, positioning as a Chengdu-Chongqing electronics hub. It’s crafting a health-tech ecosystem and merging lantern art with AI, 3D printing, and pop IPs like "Honor of Kings," transforming traditional services into modern manufacturing services.