A very close call! Almost arrested! (Patreon)

So unfortunately I have to send the drone back to DJI today, it really sucks! (but I'm going to try and convince them to sell me a demo model or something for a discount  when I go to speak  at their new pilot experience event next week). So I decided that I should try to get one last good drone shot before sending it back, and I wanted to get a shot of Shenzhen's impressive civic  centre, so I waited for a break in  the rain (it's still typhooning on and off here) and made a break for the civic centre! 

Taking drone footage in China  is sort of in a grey area, it's legal and also not legal and the laws are very confusing, all I know is that if I'm going to take footage I should pilot out of sight of crowds and onlookers as there will always be a mini circus around me of curious onlookers and pissed off  security guards. I usually find rooftops to fly from... but here I had no option, I walked out into the middle of the people's square, sort of hid out of view of the security guards behind the big flag pole and setup the drone. I managed to get it in the air and got my shot (although I would have liked to take another few sweeps), but was interrupted by some very angry soldiers who demanded I identify myself and bring the drone down immediately. Due to the recent goings on in the South China sea, there's understandably a lot of tension and they thought I was some sort of spy gathering intelligence... (although what intelligence there is to be gained of a public building I don't  know) I explained to them that it was just a toy and I was flying it here because it's a big open space, I also pointed out that there were two Chinese guys flying a toy drone on the other side  of the square (a real small toy one), they said "Chinese people can fly them here, but not foreigners" I told them I understand  and when it landed I picked it up and showed it to them before saying, thanks for clearing that up and making a hasty exit as some tourists asked  one of them where a bathroom was (one of the soldiers  was on his radio asking what to do  about me), so I smiled, gave a thumbs up and walked off.... that  was to say at least a hairy situation... I think I'll stick to rooftops in the future  when I get a drone of my own! 

Stay Awesome guys, and thank you once again for your support!  

- SerpentZA