The city of Taizhou, in East China's Zhejiang province, is building a characteristic town themed on unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) for the development of its local aviation industry.

Taizhou has a well-established manufacturing system with more than 20 companies specializing in industries related to the aviation sector.

Since the city announced its intention to build a UAV town, it has forged cooperative ties with the country's leading aviation institutes including China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC) and Beihang University for research, development, manufacturing and professional training.

To date, China Academy of Aerospace Aerodynamics, a research institute affiliated with CASC, has completed part of its production project in Taizhou, which is now able to produce 20 large and medium-sized UAVs and 1,000 small ones a year. The industrial park launched by Beihang University, with a total investment of 10 billion yuan ($1.44 billion), has the ability to produce 700 UAVs a year.

"By introducing UAV projects, we are working to build China's first production base for this vehicle," said a local official.

The UAV characteristic town has a planned area of 3.97 square kilometers. With a focus on high-end manufacturing, it will integrate the research and development of technologies, as well as education, tourism, the incubation of innovative projects and business operations.

By the end of 2019, the town is expected to achieve a production value of 18 billion yuan and exert a bigger influence in Zhejiang's and China's aviation industry.

The Rainbow UAV series, produced in Taizhou, is on exhibit at the 12th China International Aviation and Aerospace Exhibition in Zhuhai, Guangdong province, that was held from Nov 6-11. [Photo/china.com.cn]