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120m max height
Resister over 250g
No fly zones
Need insurance
All Drone Laws in China for 2021 (Ultimate Guide)
This is a guide for the drone laws in China for 2021 (updated every year) where you'll get a clue about what you can or shouldn't do while flying and travelling through this country.
Table of Contents
Can I fly my drone in China?
Unless China has secretly passed a new law that contradicts everything I’m about to say, the answer should be yes. I will also be answering some frequently asked questions on the use of drones in China.
Can I bring my drone to china?
Honestly speaking, there is no crystal clear answer. Occasional mismatches between published regulations and what happens on the ground are the norm in China. This article sheds light on what the latest Chinese regulations look like. I will try to cover, their classification, the registration process, helpful contact information, and much more.
Who do I contact?
The body responsible for drone regulations and policy around drone use including the regulations is CAAC (Civil Aviation Administration of China), which is equivalent to the FAA.
What are the drone rules in China
-
NO flight zonesAll drones must abide by China’s no-fly zones. Among the zones are military installations and airports. Sensitive administrative cities like Beijing are also off bounds. Areas riddled with civil strife such as Tibet or Xianjing are obviously problematic. If you plan on flying into a restricted area, seek permission from the CAAC. -
Maximum WeightDrones weighing over 250g ( 55 lbs) are to be registered. Alternatively, drones over 7 Kg (15 lbs) need special licenses from CAAC. -
Maximum altitude of 120m120 m (400 ft) is the maximum height to fly. Anything higher requires the pilot to have a license from the CAAC authorizing such flight. Most of the top drones in production (such as DJI) are capped so that the pilot gets a warning anytime they attempt to supersede the required height. -
Commercial dronesAny drone in use for commercial reasons needs to be licensed by the CAAC. -
InsuranceAny drone in use for commercial reasons needs to be licensed by the CAAC.
How can I register my drone in China
As I previously mentioned, any drone weighing over 250 g needs to be registered by the CAAC. It is important that you register your drone as soon as you arrive in the country. The last thing you would want is to fly your drone illegally in China. The process is fairly simple, all you have to do is:
- Understand mandarin (or come with a translator)
- A local phone number (Chinese)
- Have the following documents: valid ID/Passport number, serial number, your name, product model number, and email address.
Having said this, unless you have a friend in China willing to help out with this, it is very hard registering your drone over here.
How do I register my drone online?
here seems to be good news for future China-bound drone users. A new English version language registration CAAC site is available. If this is hard to navigate you can try the Chinese language version by following the steps laid out.
- Sign up for a CAAC website account, enter your number and receive a confirmation code.
- Upon entering your confirmation code, hit enter.
- Register the drone with CAAC, add the drone to the inventory on your CAAC account.
- Get the QR code on your email, print it out and stick it onto your drone. That way it can easily be identified.
How do I register for a commercial drone license in China?
For anyone looking to use their drone in China on commercial grounds, get a commercial drone license. Right now the process has been simplified significantly unlike before. However, as I said at the beginning, what is regulation might not be a reality. As a foreign company, getting a license is not in any way easy.
Regulations that kicked in as of 1 June 2018 require certain particulars before you are granted a drone license in china. The requirements are:
- Foreign companies can get a license but they must have a Chinese legal representative.
- Must have at the very least one drone which is registered by the real-name system.
- Third-party liability insurance on the drone is a must
- The pilot must have certification recognized by the Chinese authorities
Frequently asked questions about flying a drone in China
Sometimes drone pilots get into trouble not because they have ignored the regulations, but due to ignorance of how things work in the host country. As wise men always say, “experience is the best teacher” so let us be guided by reviewers. I will try to help you avoid falling into the same trap. Here are some pointers on how to fly your drone when in China.
Can I board a plane with my drone in China?
It is okay to move about public transportation with your drone when in China. The only issue that arises is how you store your drone batteries.
Keep off the military/police
Just as with any other country globally, military installations are sensitive areas and off-limits. This extends to police posts or stops.
Do not go out attention-seeking
The Chinese have a wary eye for foreigners, particularly when outside major cities.
What are my top drones to fly safely in China?
My following two recommendations are 2 great compact drones that are quite silent and also small enough to travel with and not stand out as annoying.
Dji Mini 2- The best international travel drone (under 250g)
4k
31min
10km
No follow me
DJI has surprised us with this incredible camera drone under 250g, which is legal to fly in most countries without registration.
It comes at a very cheap price for it's incredible specs.
It comes at a very cheap price for it's incredible specs.
I have covered it much more in depth in my article review and even compared it with the Mavic Air 2.
2.Dji Mavic Air 2 - My favorite drone overall
If you want more control over things like shutter speed, iso and such, the best professional drone that still falls under the 500g category is the DJI Mavic Air.
It's made mostly for people who want to play around with settings and enter into the pro category.
DJI lowered it's price since it was first released.
Advantages
- 3 way sensors
- 68kph (fastest among the 3)
- follow me mode(quite a few options)
- 8gb internal storage
- ISo & shutter speed settings
- 6 photo modes
- takes RAW photos
- 100mbps bitrate
DISAdvantages
- battery life ins't that amazing
Restricted Areas and Geofencing (drone FLying map)
The best way to figure out what areas you can fly in, while you're here is by consulting DJI offilicial map.
They do a great job mapping the places that one should avoid while flying in every country:
- airports
- military bases
- prisons
- power plants
- any high risk areas
These would be the current updated drone laws for China. I suggest checking my full map with all the countries drone laws to see where it's best to travel to.
Drone laws Ending
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