Enter the dragon: Chinese aerospace special

For years China has been a fast-growing airline market. Now the world's most populous state wants to join the elite club of civil aircraft manufacturing nations, with a strategy based on its ARJ21 regional jet and planned Comac 919 narrowbody, as well as partnering with established OEMs.

With the red banners in its modern factories espousing not Communist slogans but business school dogma, China is determined to learn from the best of the West. On the eve of Asian Aerospace in Hong Kong, our Chinese aerospace special looks at how successfully the country is moving from customer of airliner manufacturers to partner and competitor.

• Manufacturing: Taking on the giants
• Industry: Modern and ancient
• Show preview: Gateway to China
• Assembly: Tianjin triumph
• Exports: Closing the gap
• General aviation: Ready for take-off
• Interiors: Standing up for seats