Drone owners rush to offload devices ahead of Beijing ban
Beijing residents are selling their drones back to the government ahead of a total citywide ban on possession and flight taking effect in November. While some owners accept the safety rationale, others criticize the financial loss and government buy-back terms.
Why it matters
The ban reflects China's strict approach to airspace management and the regulation of consumer technology in the capital.
Drone owners in Beijing flocked to designated buy-back sites this week, looking to sell their devices for as much as possible ahead of an impending citywide ban .
New rules in the Chinese capital ban not just the flying of unmanned aerial vehicles but the possession or storage of them, meaning owners have until November 15 to get rid of their drones.
At several authorised buyer sites across the city, AFP witnessed queues of people waiting for staff to appraise their drones and negotiate prices.
All sites had a visible police presence, indicating the sensitivity of the new laws, and most people there did not want to talk to AFP .
At the flagship store for the world's largest drone maker DJI in Beijing's business district, around a dozen people queued on Thursday (September 17, 2026) morning hoping to sell their drones back for a reasonable price.
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