The Chinese agency responsible for drone safety, CAAC, has provided several internet-accessible details on flying for fun or work. The highlights are enumerated below. For more details, go to the link above. Are drones allowed in China? According to CAAC, drone use is allowed in China, subject to CAAC regulations. Read on for more details. Here are the most important rules to know for flying a drone in China: Drones are allowed in China under the following conditions: Maximum altitude: 120m (400ft); anything higher necessitates a CAAC commercial license. Most drones, including the famous DJI brand, automatically set the maximum altitude to 120m and warn you if you manually adjust the maximum altitude settings. Maximum Distance: China, like many other countries, requires your drone to have a VLOS, or “Visual Line of Sight.” Put another way, you must fly with your drone in sight. Maximum Weight: China requires real-name drone registration for all drones. Any drone weighing more than 7kg (15 lbs) requires a special CAAC license. China Drone Permits All drones or Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS) must be registered. Recreational drone use necessitates this. A commercial drone license is necessary for any operator or business that wishes to use a drone for commercial purposes in China. If you want to apply for a commercial drone flight permit in China, you must meet the following requirements: In China, a legal business entity whose legal representative is a Chinese citizen. This legal entity must already own at least one registered drone with the Aviation Authority. You must purchase liability insurance to cover the use of the drone. The drone operator must be certified through a Chinese government-approved training program. China Drone Registration You must register any drone with the CAAC here: Drone Registration China CAAC Drone Registration requires the individual’s personal information and information about the drone and its intended use. You will need to provide the following: The proprietor’s name A valid personal identification number (such as an ID or passport number) Telephone number and e-mail address The model number of the product Serial No. What the drone will be used for (objective) Once your drone is registered, you must print the registration sticker with the QR code and attach it to your drone. CAAC Drone Registration may require knowledge of the Chinese language and possession of a Chinese mobile phone number. Licensing Situations that require CAAC licensing: A CAAC license is required for any drone weighing between 7 kilograms (15 pounds) and 116 kilograms (256 pounds). The CAAC must license all drones used for commercial purposes. Any drone weighing more than 116 kilograms (256 pounds) must be operated with a pilot’s license and UAV certification. No-Fly Zones China’s NFZs, or “No Fly Zones,” apply to all drones. These zones encompass the area surrounding airports, military bases, and specific cities such as Beijing and sensitive areas such as Xinjiang and Tibet. While DJI drones are programmed not to fly in these NFZs (although there are hacks to circumvent this), many other drone brands require you to consult the China No Fly Zone map to determine whether drone flight is permitted. You can obtain permission to fly in an NFZ through the CAAC.