Drone Photography
A beginner's guide to flying a drone in Hong Kong
Hong Kong is a photographer's dream. From densely packed skyscrapers to stunning scenery along hiking trails, the city is filled with surprising, hidden gems. As much as I love capturing everyday life in Hong Kong through Reels or DSLR, there's something magical about shooting from above the clouds and showing a different perspective through drone photography.
My drone was one of my first purchases when I moved to Hong Kong. I hardly knew anyone in the city and wanted to pick up a new hobby that was 1) creative, 2) motivated me to explore and 3) gave me an opportunity to meet other creatives in the community.
With the lockdowns in 2021 and inability to travel, it became one of my favorite pastimes: exploring one of Hong Kong's many hiking trails on the weekends with fellow photographers and a drone in hand.
Over the past year or so, Hong Kong has continued to surprise me with its diverse range of urban and natural landscapes, and I'm grateful to have had my drone to capture them. If you're thinking about buying one, here's a beginner's guide for drone photography in Hong Kong, including local drone laws, introductory tips and some of my go-to spots to shoot.
Flying drones is legal and acceptable in Hong Kong. In fact, it has become increasingly popular in the past few years among photographers and videographers. Until recently, Hong Kong had very relaxed drone laws compared to other cities in the world, though of course, there are regulations that must be followed.
Most recently in June 2022, Hong Kong's national aviation authority, the Civil Aviation Department (CAD), enacted the new Small Unmanned Aircraft Order. These new regulations have different requirements to follow based on the weight of your drone, including drone registration, pilot registration, training, insurance, etc. Drones that weigh under 250g do not need their pilots or the drone itself to be registered. Luckily, I own a DJI Mini 2, which I highly recommend for beginners and happens to weigh just under the requirement at 242g.
In addition to the new drone laws, the CAD also updated the no-fly zones in the city, adding Tai Mo Shan, the highest peak in Hong Kong, and Lantau Island, where the Big Buddha is located. The new requirements signal a more serious approach from the government to regulate drones. However, they are generally in line with drone laws in other cities, and as long as you follow the rules, you shouldn't run into any issues. For updated drone laws in the city, check out Drone & DSLR.
It's been so much fun learning how to fly a drone and has really made me appreciate drone photography, as well as motivate me to explore as much of Hong Kong as possible. I've learned a lot from trial and error, so if you're just starting out, here are a few tips to make your first flight smoother than mine was:
1. Pick an open, rural location: If you're flying your drone for the first time, make sure you pick a space that's open and flat, with no buildings or people around. It seems like an obvious tip, but for some reason, I did not follow this. I was overly ambitious and decided to bring my drone to a hike up Lion Rock on a windy, busy day, with many other hikers around and no flat surfaces for takeoff or landing. If you're looking for a place to practice, try beginner-friendly spots, such as Nam Sang Wai or High Island Reservoir.
2. Bring an experienced friend: I was too scared to fly my drone alone the first time, and brought my friend, Thomas (@tremy21), for support. If he didn't come with me, my drone absolutely would have fallen into the abyss, as there were no flat surfaces around and I had no idea how to land the drone in my hand. On top of that, it was so windy that Thomas ended up cutting his hand trying to land my drone. I clearly did not do enough research ahead of time, but even if you do, it's good to have someone around who knows what they're doing in case anything goes wrong. It's also helpful to hear tips and experiences from others.
3. Take your time: Flying a drone for the first time can be tricky. Once you start flying in more difficult terrain, there are a lot of things that you need to pay attention to, including buildings, birds, other drones and battery life. It's important to take your time from beginning to end, starting with setting your return to home (RTH) altitude before takeoff to avoid flying into any obstacles when your drone comes back to land. During the flight, you should also check the drone's surroundings to avoid obstacles, and monitor the battery regularly to ensure you have plenty of time to fly back and land. It can take time to get used to it all, so be patient and give yourself the space (open land) and time (battery) to make it as seamless as possible.
Over the past year or so, Hong Kong has continued to surprise me with its diverse range of urban and natural landscapes, and I'm grateful to have had my drone to capture them. If you're thinking about buying one, here's a beginner's guide for drone photography in Hong Kong, including local drone laws, introductory tips and some of my go-to spots to shoot.
Hong Kong drone laws in 2023
Flying drones is legal and acceptable in Hong Kong. In fact, it has become increasingly popular in the past few years among photographers and videographers. Until recently, Hong Kong had very relaxed drone laws compared to other cities in the world, though of course, there are regulations that must be followed.
Most recently in June 2022, Hong Kong's national aviation authority, the Civil Aviation Department (CAD), enacted the new Small Unmanned Aircraft Order. These new regulations have different requirements to follow based on the weight of your drone, including drone registration, pilot registration, training, insurance, etc. Drones that weigh under 250g do not need their pilots or the drone itself to be registered. Luckily, I own a DJI Mini 2, which I highly recommend for beginners and happens to weigh just under the requirement at 242g.
In addition to the new drone laws, the CAD also updated the no-fly zones in the city, adding Tai Mo Shan, the highest peak in Hong Kong, and Lantau Island, where the Big Buddha is located. The new requirements signal a more serious approach from the government to regulate drones. However, they are generally in line with drone laws in other cities, and as long as you follow the rules, you shouldn't run into any issues. For updated drone laws in the city, check out Drone & DSLR.
Tips for first-time drone pilots
It's been so much fun learning how to fly a drone and has really made me appreciate drone photography, as well as motivate me to explore as much of Hong Kong as possible. I've learned a lot from trial and error, so if you're just starting out, here are a few tips to make your first flight smoother than mine was:
1. Pick an open, rural location: If you're flying your drone for the first time, make sure you pick a space that's open and flat, with no buildings or people around. It seems like an obvious tip, but for some reason, I did not follow this. I was overly ambitious and decided to bring my drone to a hike up Lion Rock on a windy, busy day, with many other hikers around and no flat surfaces for takeoff or landing. If you're looking for a place to practice, try beginner-friendly spots, such as Nam Sang Wai or High Island Reservoir.
2. Bring an experienced friend: I was too scared to fly my drone alone the first time, and brought my friend, Thomas (@tremy21), for support. If he didn't come with me, my drone absolutely would have fallen into the abyss, as there were no flat surfaces around and I had no idea how to land the drone in my hand. On top of that, it was so windy that Thomas ended up cutting his hand trying to land my drone. I clearly did not do enough research ahead of time, but even if you do, it's good to have someone around who knows what they're doing in case anything goes wrong. It's also helpful to hear tips and experiences from others.
3. Take your time: Flying a drone for the first time can be tricky. Once you start flying in more difficult terrain, there are a lot of things that you need to pay attention to, including buildings, birds, other drones and battery life. It's important to take your time from beginning to end, starting with setting your return to home (RTH) altitude before takeoff to avoid flying into any obstacles when your drone comes back to land. During the flight, you should also check the drone's surroundings to avoid obstacles, and monitor the battery regularly to ensure you have plenty of time to fly back and land. It can take time to get used to it all, so be patient and give yourself the space (open land) and time (battery) to make it as seamless as possible.
My go-to spots for drone photography in Hong Kong:
Tai Long Wan: Arguably the most beautiful beach in Hong Kong and an open, easy area to fly. You can even take shots of the next beach over!
Lok Fu: Located near the now-closed Kai Tak Airport, this hill was painted with a checkerboard red and white pattern as a navigational aid for pilots. I took this shot with the controller hidden in my right hand.
Victoria Peak: March is a special time for photographers in Hong Kong, as it's usually the perfect weather conditions to create a sea of clouds. We woke up at 4 a.m. to catch the Peak at sunrise, and did some further rock scrambling,
as the cliffs nearby blocked the drone signal - but this magical morning was well worth it.
East Coast Park Precinct: Picture a girl stopping in the middle of a busy playground, lying down on the ground, and talking on the phone. That girl was me. To capture the shot on the left, my friend, Bern (@btw.pics), was quite far away and on the phone with me to tell me where to move so I lined up with the track. I would recommend coming here in the early morning when it's not as busy.
Sai Kung: With its lush greenery and secluded hiking trails, Sai Kung has become one of my favorite spots for weekend adventures - and plenty of open space to fly your drone. Pictured here are High Island Reservoir (left) and Kam
Kui Shek Teng (right), both of which are splendid during golden hour.
If you're planning to buy a drone or recently got one, hopefully this guide can help you get started. If you have any questions or tips for flying a drone in Hong Kong or spots to share, let me know on Instagram @bonnieszeng.
If you're planning to buy a drone or recently got one, hopefully this guide can help you get started. If you have any questions or tips for flying a drone in Hong Kong or spots to share, let me know on Instagram @bonnieszeng.