Drones and Photography Equipment: Whether to Bring Them, Whether They Can Fly, and How to Pass Security Checks

Drones: Can Bring, But Don't Fly Recklessly

Entry and Carrying

• Drones can be brought into the country. For personal use quantities, generally no declaration is required, but be ready to explain the purpose.
• Real-name Registration: Drones with a takeoff weight of 250 grams or more must be registered in the Civil Aviation Administration of China's "Drone Real-Name Registration System". Foreign documents can be used for registration. It is recommended to complete this before departure.
• Batteries: Lithium batteries must be carried in hand and cannot be checked in. Generally, a single battery should not exceed 100Wh (most DJI models comply).

No-fly and Restricted Zones

• Airport Clearance Areas: Flying is strictly prohibited within 5–20 km around airports; violations can result in fines or even detention.
• City Centers: Within the Sixth Ring Road of Beijing and the Inner Ring of Shanghai, flying is generally prohibited.
• Military Facilities, Government Buildings, Prisons, Nuclear Facilities: Flying is strictly prohibited.
• Scenic Areas: Major tourist spots like Jiuzhaigou, Zhangjiajie, the Forbidden City, Mogao Caves, and Potala Palace mostly prohibit flights, and some require prior application.
• Border Areas: Border counties in Xinjiang and Tibet are completely no-fly zones.

Places Where You Can Actually Fly

• Northwest Gobi deserts and Danxia landforms (Zhangye, Dunhuang Yardang, Daqaidan Emerald Lake)
• Grasslands (Hulunbuir, Ili)
• Some islands and coastlines
• Undeveloped mountain and rural areas

Even in these places, check with a smartphone app (such as "Drone No-Fly Zone Query") before takeoff and confirm with locals if there is management. If personnel ask you to land, land immediately and do not argue.

Photography Equipment Security Check

• Cameras and Lenses: Carry them in hand; checked baggage is not recommended. During security inspection, they need to be taken out and scanned separately.
• Tripods: Can be checked. If carried in hand, most security checks will require them to be checked (viewed as "rod-shaped objects"); small carbon fiber tripods may be allowed at some airports.
• Batteries: All must be carried in hand. Each should not exceed 100Wh, and usually limited to 20 pieces (practically, carrying 4–6 pieces is fine).
• Memory Cards and Hard Drives: Carry with you. Some border checks may inspect device contents; this is a routine procedure, just cooperate.
• Flash and Fill Lights: Can be carried with you, but those containing lithium batteries must comply with battery regulations.

Photography Restrictions Inside Scenic Spots

• Mogao Caves, Yungang Grottoes, Longmen Grottoes: Photography is prohibited inside the caves (flash can damage murals and sculptures); this is a strict rule.
• Potala Palace: Photography is prohibited inside the palace.
• Museums: Most allow photography without flash; special exhibitions may prohibit all photography. Check entrance signs.
• Military Areas, Checkpoints, Border Facilities: Photography is prohibited.
• Temples and Religious Sites: Most allow outdoor photography; photographing statues inside the halls is usually prohibited; always get permission before photographing monks.

Equipment Preparation Suggestions

• Camera Body: One body with two lenses (wide-angle and medium telephoto) covers 90% of scenes. Travel in China involves a lot of movement, so the lighter the equipment, the better.
• Filters: UV/CPL filters are useful at high altitudes and by the sea; GND graduated filters are practical for mountain and coastal sunrises and sunsets.
• Cleaning: Northwest and desert areas are dusty, so prepare a blower and cleaning pen; change lenses in sheltered areas.
• Backup: Export a copy daily to an external hard drive or cloud. China’s internet is fast enough for uploads, but foreign cloud services require separate arrangements.