Shanghai Announces New Rules for Civilian Drones

Shanghai will implement new civilian drone flight rules on February 1 and launch a digital platform for its use, authorities said at a briefing on Tuesday.

For foreign nationals, the rules depend largely on how the drone is obtained.

"If a foreign visitor brings a drone into China, they must comply with customs regulations," said Cao Jiayin, an official with the city's transport authority.

"Drones purchased locally can be registered using a passport through the UOM system run by the Civil Aviation Administration of China, with flight applications submitted via the city's Suishenban (随申办) platform."

Under the new rules, Shanghai's low-altitude airspace is divided into permitted and controlled zones.

Drones can be flown in approved areas without prior permission once registration is complete.

Flights involving controlled airspace require advance clearance. Applications must be submitted by noon on the day before the planned flight, with results available after 9pm the same day. Once approved, operators are required to confirm takeoff one hour before flying and confirm landing after the flight.

From February 1, Shanghai will open three designated public drone flying areas – Shanghai Expo Culture Park, Century Park, and Shanghai Botanical Garden – for recreational drone use. Time slots must be booked in advance through the Suishenban, and flights are limited to designated areas within each park.

Shanghai Expo Culture Park and Century Park can each accommodate up to 50 drone users per hour, while Shanghai Botanical Garden has a capacity of 30 per hour, said Yao Ji, director of the flight command office at the Shanghai police aviation unit.

Suishenban will handle drone registration, flight applications, and bookings for the public flying zones starting from February 1.

Authorities also emphasized that the entire city classifies airspace above 120 meters as controlled. Operators can check whether a specific location requires approval directly on Suishenban when submitting a flight application.

Police warned that enforcement against illegal drone flights will continue. Since August last year, Shanghai police have handled 3,366 violations, most involving unregistered drones or flights exceeding altitude limits. Penalties can include fines, confiscation of equipment, and, in serious cases, criminal liability.

By the end of 2025, Shanghai had registered around 220,000 drones and nearly 800 drone-related companies, with more than 3.2 million flights recorded citywide. Officials said the new measures aim to make drone rules clearer for users while reducing safety risks in one of China's busiest urban airspaces.