Bringing a Drone to China: 2025 Guide to Rules, Regulations, and Registration Requirements

China is home to countless breathtaking landscapes such as the sea of clouds at Huangshan, the peculiar rock formations of Zhangjiajie, and the unique scenery of Fujian Tulou. Being able to capture these views with a drone would make for wonderful travel memories.

This article provides the latest information you need to know when bringing drones to China for tourism purposes, covering both drones under 250g and those over 250g. Additionally, I’ll share practical advice based on my own filming experience in the Fujian Tulou area.

Overview of China’s Drone Regulations

China’s drone regulations are primarily managed by the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC). Drones are classified by weight, with different regulations applying to each category. The 250g weight threshold is particularly important.

As the home country of DJI, China has a deeply rooted drone culture. Compared to Western countries and Japan, China appears quite tolerant of drone photography as long as proper etiquette is observed. However, this tolerance varies greatly by region – while regulations are strict in city centers and around important facilities, natural areas and tourist destinations often allow relatively free flight.

Regulations for Drones Under 250g

Drones under 250g hold a special position in China’s regulations. According to the latest regulations, drones under 250g are exempt from registration only if they “cannot collect personal information.”

However, in reality, many small drones are equipped with cameras capable of capturing personal information such as faces, making this exemption difficult to apply strictly in most cases. Nevertheless, in actual practice, many tourists fly drones under 250g without registration.

According to local experienced users, DJI’s small drones typically don’t cause problems when flown discreetly in inconspicuous locations. However, this is not a legal exemption but rather the reality of practical enforcement, so foreign tourists should consider registering through proper procedures.

Regulations for Drones Over 250g

For drones over 250g, CAAC registration is mandatory regardless of whether they have cameras. If you want to use mid-size aircraft like the Mavic 3 or Air 2S, this procedure cannot be avoided.

Even with drones over 250g, as long as they are properly registered, they can be flown without problems at most tourist destinations. However, it’s important to remember that some regions may have their own unique regulations.

Detailed Drone Registration Procedure

For drones over 250g, or if you want to ensure full legal compliance, registration on the CAAC website (https://uas.caac.gov.cn/login) is required. Please note that this registration process generally requires a Chinese mobile phone number. You can work around this by purchasing a local SIM card or using phone number rental services.

Registering on a Chinese-language website may be challenging for foreigners, but recently an English version of the site appears to be available. If you have trouble with registration, asking hotel staff for assistance is one option.

Basic Flight Rules and No-Fly Zones

When flying drones in China, you must follow these basic rules:

First, altitude is limited to 120m above ground, and flight must always be within visual range. Flying over areas where people gather is prohibited. Areas around airports, military facilities, and government buildings are no-fly zones.

Major no-fly zones include city centers in major cities like Beijing and Shanghai, central areas of Xiamen, areas around airports in each city (usually within a 5km radius), all military facilities and government buildings, and many major tourist attractions.

DJI drones have built-in flight restrictions that automatically prevent takeoff in no-fly zones. I recommend checking the “DJI Fly Safe” website or app beforehand.

Airport Import Procedures

Many travelers worry about airport inspections when bringing drones to China. However, regarding imports themselves, most cases reportedly have no problems.

However, batteries must be carried as carry-on luggage and should not be placed in checked baggage. When carrying on, battery voltage may be checked, but there are rarely any more detailed investigations.

Even with drones over 250g, as long as proper carry-on procedures are followed, problems with airport imports rarely occur.

Recommended Drone Models

For traveling to China with a drone, I most highly recommend the DJI Mini 4 Pro. Weighing 249g, it can simplify application procedures when traveling to overseas destinations including Taiwan and European countries, while offering high-quality 4K/60fps recording. It features three-directional obstacle detection sensors for high safety, allowing even beginners to fly relatively easily, and has exceptional wind resistance among lightweight models. Unlike typical small drones, there’s no worry about becoming uncontrollable in light winds or getting lost. With a maximum flight time of 34 minutes, sufficient filming is possible on a single charge. It’s foldable for easy portability and lightweight for travel – truly an all-around excellent model.

※When purchasing the DJI Mini 4 Pro, this set including spare batteries and charging hub offers good value.

Incidentally, when I travel, I often bring either the DJI Mini 4 Pro mentioned above, or the Air 3 when the destination country has more relaxed weight regulations. The Air 3 weighs 720g, slightly heavier than the Mini series, but is still considered lightweight among drones. It has two lenses, allowing for switching between wide-angle and telephoto shooting, making it recommended for more serious filming.

My Experience: Drone Photography Challenge in Fujian Tulou Area

When visiting Fujian Tulou (the unique collective residential complexes registered as a World Heritage site), I brought a DJI Mini 4 Pro and attempted filming.

In the Fujian Tulou area, by carefully selecting locations while avoiding flying over third parties, I was able to capture wonderful footage without any problems. Local people were generally friendly, and many actually showed interest in the drone.

What was interesting was that many Chinese tourists were also flying drones in the same location. They too maintained appropriate distance and altitude while filming, creating an atmosphere of mutual respect for airspace. This truly reflects a drone-advanced nation.

Since some areas may have individual rules, I made sure to check local signs and information centers. Particularly in tourist spots with concentrated visitors, signs with flight altitude restrictions were sometimes posted.

While there were no particular troubles during flight, I made sure to obtain filming permission from local staff and residents whenever possible at major tourist sites. I believe this ultimately led to smooth filming.

Also please read my previous article about Fujian tulou stay

[Planning Your Trip] Staying in a Fujian Tulou: Homestay with a Hakka Family in the Tianluokeng Tulou Cluster (Part 1)

Conclusion

Drone photography in China can be thoroughly enjoyed with proper preparation and understanding. However, since some regions may have unique regulations, don’t neglect local verification.

From my own experience, I can say that China, being DJI’s home country, is a relatively tolerant nation regarding drone culture. Many Chinese people also enjoy drones, and as long as foreign tourists observe proper etiquette and rules, it’s a country where wonderful aerial photography experiences are possible.

To photograph China’s beautiful scenery with drones, it’s important to respect local laws and culture while always paying attention to surrounding situations. By doing so, you’ll be able to add wonderful aerial footage to your travel album.

Disclaimer

The information in this article is current as of March 2025. Since China’s drone regulations are frequently updated, please be sure to check the latest regulations before traveling. The author cannot be held responsible for the results of actions taken based on the information in this article. Legal risks are particularly the responsibility of the traveler, so please exercise sufficient caution.