Hong Kong is a world unto itself, classified since the U.K. turned it back to China as a Special Administrative Region. At least in terms of aviation, China regards Hong Kong as a foreign country and handles all flights from there as international arrivals, and all that they entail.

China's ambitious plan to create a general aviation infrastructure includes promises to build a network of 2,000 small airports throughout the country by 2030.

As with any international destination, getting the most out of a trip into Chinese airspace—and not winding up sideways with the aviation authorities—demands thorough advance planning.