On November 3, the Shenzhen Municipal People's Government issued the "Notice on Strengthening Low-Altitude Flight Control" (hereinafter referred to as the "Notice") to solidify low-altitude security defenses for the upcoming APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting. The notice takes effect from 00:00 on November 7 and remains valid until 24:00 on November 21.
Phased and Zoned Implementation in Two Stages
The Notice specifies that from 00:00 on November 7 to 24:00 on November 10, relevant aircraft and airborne objects are prohibited from flying within the administrative areas of Futian District and Nanshan District. From 00:00 on November 11 to 24:00 on November 21, the no-fly zone expands to cover the entire city of Shenzhen (excluding the Shenzhen-Shanwei Special Cooperation Zone).
Two details are often misinterpreted. First, the second stage represents an "expansion" rather than a "replacement"—after November 11, restrictions in Futian and Nanshan are not lifted but are included within the "city-wide" scope, meaning these two districts face continuous bans for 15 days, while other districts enter control measures starting November 11. Second, the parenthetical exclusion after "city-wide" is a hard boundary; the Shenzhen-Shanwei Special Cooperation Zone is exempt in both stages. Phasing and zoning efforts aim to compress the area and duration of controls to the necessary minimum, reflecting the most distinct approach of this notice.
Prohibitions Extend Beyond Drones
Upon hearing "low-altitude flight control," many people immediately think of putting away their drones. However, the Notice lists a much broader range of targets: all types of civil unmanned aerial vehicles, model aircraft, and powered flight toys; general aviation aircraft such as fixed-wing planes, helicopters, gliders, paramotors, paragliders, hang gliders, manned hot air balloons, and manned airships; aerospace models including solid propellant rockets and water pressure-powered rockets; and airborne objects such as balloons (including unmanned free balloons and tethered balloons), kites, and sky lanterns.
Two details are worth highlighting: the presence of the National Air Traffic Control Commission alongside multiple macro-management departments indicates that low-altitude safety has moved from the technical sphere into planning and governance levels; the fact that the Unmanned Systems Safety Forum is holding its fourth session demonstrates that this direction has moved beyond conceptual hype to become a regular industry topic.
In other words, activities such as flying kites with children in parks, balloons suspended at shopping mall openings, balloon advertisements for real estate projects, and sky lanterns during festivals must be paused during this period; motorized toys capable of self-propelled flight are also included. For ordinary citizens, the safest practice is to store equipment beforehand and remind elderly family members and children—as these groups are often those least likely to see the notice.
Keeping Channels Open, Avoiding One-Size-Fits-All Bans
Control measures do not mean a complete halt. Special flight tasks involving security assurance, emergency rescue, meteorological detection, police duty, television broadcasting, radio monitoring, and logistics transportation may still proceed upon approval by relevant authorities in accordance with the law. As a city where the low-altitude economy is accelerating, Shenzhen has already integrated drone inspections, surveying, and delivery into daily operations. Retaining approval channels for essential operations reflects a governance balance of "minimum necessity and classified measures"—upholding safety baselines while minimizing disruptions to industrial rhythms.
Rule of Law and Governance Balance Behind Major Events
This control measure has clear legal foundations. The Notice cites laws and regulations including the Public Security Administration Punishments Law, Civil Aviation Law, Interim Regulations on the Management of Unmanned Aircraft Flights, and General Aviation Flight Control Regulations to implement temporary controls on the release of relevant aircraft and airborne objects. Earlier, on September 30, the 52nd Session of the Standing Committee of the 7th Municipal People's Congress passed a decision authorizing the municipal government to stipulate temporary administrative measures regarding public safety, urban management, and transportation during the preparation and hosting of the APEC meeting, with an implementation period lasting until November 30; the 33rd APEC Economic Leaders' Informal Meeting will be held in Shenzhen from November 18 to 19. Notices issued simultaneously include restrictions on non-Shenzhen (non-Yue B) license plate vehicles and temporary traffic management for trucks, following a consistent logic: maintaining order in core areas without shutting down the daily life of the entire city.
From November 7 to 21, the sky overhead will remain quiet for a while. For individuals, it means storing drones, kites, and sky lanterns; for enterprises, it means applying for approvals in advance or rescheduling aerial photography, inspections, and deliveries; for the city, it means delivering both safety and composure under global scrutiny.