Drone Photography in Hong Kong
A beginner's guide to flying a drone
Hong Kong is a photographer's dream. From densely packed skyscrapers to dramatic mountain ridges and turquoise reservoirs along hiking trails, the city offers one of the most visually diverse landscapes in the world. And luckily for drone photographers, it's 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 the first things I purchased 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.
During the 2021 lockdowns, it became one of my favorite pastimes on the weekend: exploring one of Hong Kong's many hiking trails with fellow photographers and a drone in hand.
Over the past year or so, Hong Kong has continued to surprise me with its unique range of urban and natural landscapes, and I'm grateful to have had my drone to capture them. If you're thinking about buying a drone or learning more about flying a drone in Hong Kong, here's everything you need to know 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), introduced the new Small Unmanned Aircraft (SUA) 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.
1. Start in an open, rural location: If you're flying a 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. The open terrain will give you room to practice takeoff and landing, test the return to home (RTH) altitude and adjust camera settings without pressure.
2. Fly with someone experienced: 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 hands. 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. Set your return-to-home (RTH) altitude before takeoff: 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.
Hong Kong offers some of the most cinematic drone photography locations in Asia. Here are my go-to spots:
Over the past year or so, Hong Kong has continued to surprise me with its unique range of urban and natural landscapes, and I'm grateful to have had my drone to capture them. If you're thinking about buying a drone or learning more about flying a drone in Hong Kong, here's everything you need to know including local drone laws, introductory tips and some of my go-to spots to shoot
Hong Kong drone laws and regulations
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), introduced the new Small Unmanned Aircraft (SUA) 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 in Hong Kong
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. Start in an open, rural location: If you're flying a 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. The open terrain will give you room to practice takeoff and landing, test the return to home (RTH) altitude and adjust camera settings without pressure.
2. Fly with someone experienced: 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 hands. 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. Set your return-to-home (RTH) altitude before takeoff: 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.
Best places for drone photography in Hong Kong
Hong Kong offers some of the most cinematic drone photography locations in Asia. Here are my go-to spots:
Tai Long Wan: Arguably the most beautiful beach in Hong Kong and an open, easy area to fly. There's so many different landscapes that you can capture in one shot from the wide sandy beaches to the turquoise water and rolling green hills. From above, you can even take shots of the next beach over!
Lok Tu (Checkerboard Hill near Kai Tak): 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. From a drone perspective, you can capture the geometric pattern contrasting against the city skyline or zoom in for a 2D effect. 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 capture the skyline floating above a blanket of clouds. Due to signal interference near the cliffs, we had to do some rock scrambling to maintain connection, but this magical morning was well worth it. If you want iconic Hong Kong skyline drone shots, this is the spot.
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 standing far away and was 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. Luckily, there is also 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.
Absolutely. Drone photography pushed me to explore remote beaches, sunrise hikes and hidden viewpoints across Hong Kong. It also introduced me to a creative community that made the city feel smaller and more welcoming as an expat. Flying a drone is both technical and artistic - and when done responsibly, it unlocks a completely new perspective of Hong Kong's skyline and landscapes.
If you're planning to buy a drone or are just starting out, hopefully this guide can help you get started.
Is drone photography in Hong Kong worth it?
Absolutely. Drone photography pushed me to explore remote beaches, sunrise hikes and hidden viewpoints across Hong Kong. It also introduced me to a creative community that made the city feel smaller and more welcoming as an expat. Flying a drone is both technical and artistic - and when done responsibly, it unlocks a completely new perspective of Hong Kong's skyline and landscapes.
If you're planning to buy a drone or are just starting out, hopefully this guide can help you get started.