By Todd Symons, Fred He and Martha Zhou, CNN
Beijing (CNN) — In the flagship Beijing store of the world’s biggest drone maker, display racks designed to showcase DJI’s famous flying products sit awkwardly empty.
The Chinese capital is now effectively drone-free. Under sweeping new rules that took effect May 1, you cannot buy, rent, or fly them without approval within the city’s sprawling jurisdiction – a stunning turnaround considering China is both the birthplace of and the dominant force in the consumer drone industry.
Diehard enthusiasts rushed to electronics stores across Beijing this week for last-chance purchases before the remaining stock was pulled from the shelves.
Zoe Zhao, 44, said “many models had already sold out” by the time she got to the DJI store, adding that she only managed to buy one because someone who had reserved it couldn’t make it back to Beijing.
The Beijing resident then had to register with local police and on an official app, before completing a 30-minute exam at home.
The strict regulations are designed to “strengthen the management of unmanned aerial vehicles” and “safeguard the security of the capital,” municipal authorities said.
But they also reflect China’s tightening grip on drones and cast uncertainty over the country’s low-altitude economy – a national “priority” sector encompassing UAVs and flying cars.
Drones have become ubiquitous in China – popular with recreational photographers, used in food delivery and farming, and even replacing fireworks as the star attraction during holidays and celebrations.
By the end of 2025, the number of drones officially registered reached over three million nationwide. And the rapid spread in recent years has heightened security concerns across the country, particularly in the capital, where sensitive military and political sites are concentrated.
Official concerns appear to stem from not just the spying capabilities of drones but also the lethal potential they have –– as displayed on the battlefields of the Russia-Ukraine war, where retrofitted recreational drones have been used to kill.
Sweeping ban
The capital already had tighter restrictions, with a no-fly zone that kept expanding over recent years.
Under the new rules, drones and key components cannot even be transported into Beijing without permission. They can now only be carried by registered owners who have verified themselves with local police.
The all-out ban also prohibits them from being kept at “storage sites” in the city’s urban core and forbids the “hacking” of drone systems.
The new policy raises questions for international travelers visiting or transiting through Beijing with drones in their luggage, an issue not explicitly clarified in the regulation announcement. CNN sought comment from the Civil Aviation Administration of China, but it has not yet responded.
It also adds to the frustrations of existing drone users in Beijing. Under the new rules, they won’t even be able to repair or replace their drones in the city, a store worker told Chinese state-backed media Cover News. Many users in the city also complained online about confusion over how the rules should be interpreted.
Steven Wang, a university student and drone enthusiast, used to fly his drone in designated areas on the outskirts of the capital before the ban put an end to that.
Now, all three of his drones are stored at home in Hebei, the province surrounding Beijing, which also has tightened regulations. “I have to apply for permission for each flight, which is very inconveni