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.
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