The Guangdong-Macao In-Depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin plans to complete its All-Domain Intelligent Unmanned Systems demonstration project within the year, as it accelerates efforts to build a "future city".
A city-scale testing ground for autonomous innovation
Hengqin is transforming its urban environment into a city-scale testing ground for autonomous technologies.
At the control center of Hengqin's All-Domain Intelligent Unmanned Systems project, a wide range of autonomous equipment is monitored in real time through an integrated visual platform, including RoboBus, RoboTaxi, driverless delivery vehicles and cleaning robots.
Under a "1+1+7+8" development blueprint, Hengqin aims to establish an integrated all-domain intelligent unmanned system. The framework is supported by one national standardization body for unmanned systems, seven categories of new infrastructure and eight major application scenarios, including smart autonomous delivery and technology-enabled tourism.
Building a connected autonomous industry cluster
Hengqin's industrial ecosystem is evolving from isolated pilot projects into a connected innovation network. Industry leaders such as Airbus Helicopters China headquarters and Reignwood Aviation have established operations in Hengqin. In autonomous driving, companies including Pony.ai, Neolix and WeRide have deployed services in the area. Meanwhile, VONE Technology represents Zhuhai's efforts to advance autonomous vessel technologies.
As China's first region to position all-domain intelligent unmanned systems as a strategic emerging industry, Hengqin is also exploring new institutional models. The Society of Unmanned Systems Engineers (SUSE) has adopted a "registered in Macao, operated in Hengqin" model, highlighting the complementary strengths of the two regions. At SUSE's founding conference in 2025, academicians from the Chinese Academy of Sciences and the Chinese Academy of Engineering, along with professors from the Macau University of Science and Technology, gathered to exchange views. The event helped accelerate the convergence of technology, talent and projects in Hengqin.
Hengqin serves as a distinctive bridge, combining the scale of the Chinese mainland market and rich testing scenarios with access to international rules, standards and resources.
Policies and standards drive large-scale adoption
Policy support and regulatory frameworks will be critical to moving the system from pilot projects to large-scale deployment.
In December 2023, China issued a policy relaxing market access in the Guangdong-Macao In-Depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin. The policy explicitly called for the development of an integrated sea-land-air intelligent unmanned system. A policy released in November 2025 further urged the large-scale rollout of new application scenarios and the establishment of standards for autonomous systems.
Hengqin is also piloting new approaches in areas such as low-altitude airspace management and data classification. To date, 330 kilometers of roads in Hengqin have been opened for autonomous driving tests and pilot operations. Driverless vehicles have logged more than 910,000 kilometers and completed over 95,000 passenger trips, including more than 20,000 by Macao residents. Commercial trials of intelligent connected autonomous vehicles officially began in September 2024.
Reporter | Dai Bosi
Photo | Nanfang Plus
