Chinese Teens Set Paper Plane World Record, Nearing 100 Meters

A team of Chinese teenagers has shattered the Guinness World Record for the farthest flight by a paper aircraft, propelling a hand-folded model to a staggering 98.43 meters — edging tantalizingly close to the 100-meter mark, The Paper has reported.

The record-breaking throw was achieved on December 28, 2025, in Shanghai by a six-member team with an average age of 17. Using a standard A4 sheet of paper, their aircraft, named "Research," sailed nearly 100 meters inside the city's Jiading Auto Exhibition Center, a venue chosen for its vast, windless environment.

The Guinness record for paper plane distance, first recorded at 58.82 meters in 1985, has seen fierce international competition. It was pushed to 77.134 meters in April 2022 by a joint South Korean and Malaysian team, and again to 88.318 meters by an American team in December of the same year. The latest feat by the Chinese team marks a dramatic leap forward.

The team, consisting of students ranging from a 15-year-old middle schooler to university undergraduates, operated with the precision of an engineering firm. Each member had a specialized role: Yang Shi'an spearheaded the project; Liu Liwen, the main designer and pitcher; Tang Shuai, the dedicated folder; Wang Chenghao, a co-designer for structural optimization; and Qiao Yuchen and Huang Yizhou handled on-site adjustments and calibration.

"For something almost everyone has played with, reaching these distances requires systematic research," explained Liu Liwen, the team's lead designer and pitcher from Shanghai. "It's not just about arm strength. It's the synthesis of paper quality, fold structure, aerodynamics, and throwing technique."

Their path to the record was not straightforward, following failed attempts in August and October 2025. The December success came on Liu's ninth throw of the day, after meticulous adjustments.

The team's foundation was an online QQ group for paper plane enthusiasts, founded by Yang Shi'an. Hailing from different cities across China, the members bonded over their shared passion, gaining crucial experience and breaking multiple competition records at the Ningbo Paper Aircraft Challenge between 2023 and 2025.

For the team, the greatest reward extends beyond the certificate. "The most significant takeaway isn't just a world record," reflected a member, "but the evolution from a solo hobby into a collaborative, iterative engineering system with clear division of labor." They have submitted comprehensive evidence, including multi-angle video and certified measurement data, to Guinness World Records for final verification.

The record flight demonstrates how a childhood pastime, pursued with scientific rigor and teamwork, can literally soar to new heights.