Lighting up in Shanghai faces growing scrutiny. Photo credit: Jupi Lu, Pixabay.
Officials in Shanghai unveiled a new tobacco control plan for 2026 that expands smoke-free areas, increases enforcement of existing rules, and introduces new tools to discourage smoking in public spaces, reports Sixth Tone.
The initiative builds on more than a decade of anti-smoking policies in China’s largest city. Local authorities first introduced comprehensive smoking regulations in 2010, positioning Shanghai as a national leader in tobacco control efforts. Last March, Shanghai introduced a ban on smoking while walking and launched a pilot program that allows residents to report violations through the 12345 government hotline. Authorities can impose fines of up to RMB200 (US$29) on individuals and up to RMB30,000 (US$4,360) on venues that fail to comply.
Under the new plan, city regulators will strengthen oversight of places where smoking bans already exist, including restaurants, office buildings, entertainment venues, and taxis. Officials will also designate bus stops as smoke-free areas as part of the broader push to reduce smoking in outdoor public spaces.
Authorities say enforcement will target locations with high rates of violations. The city plans to step up inspections and improve monitoring in order to ensure compliance with existing rules. Shanghai already maintains a network of more than 5,000 registered tobacco-control volunteers who conduct inspections and report violations. Last year alone, they carried out nearly 100,000 checks across various establishments.
The plan also calls for the use of new technologies, including artificial intelligence, to support tobacco control efforts. Officials have not yet specified how those systems will work but say they will help identify violations and manage smoke-free zones more effectively.
Healthcare institutions will also play a larger role. The city will require doctors to ask patients about their smoking history during initial consultations. In addition, each district must establish at least one standardized smoking-cessation clinic and provide training on tobacco-related care for healthcare workers.
Public education remains another key element of the strategy. Schools and community programs will expand outreach efforts aimed at young people and women, groups officials describe as increasingly exposed to emerging tobacco-related risks. These risks include e-cigarettes and a recent youth trend known as “cigarette cards,” in which students collect discarded cigarette packages and turn them into playground game pieces.
The campaign also reflects growing public support for smoke-free environments in the city. A 2025 survey conducted by Shanghai health authorities found that 98% of residents support a comprehensive ban on indoor smoking.
At the same time, grassroots activism has gained visibility online. Users on the popular Chinese social platform Xiaohongshu (RedNote) increasingly share strategies for discouraging public smoking and documenting confrontations with smokers who ignore restrictions. Some comedians have even turned real-life anti-smoking encounters into stand-up routines, earning recognition as informal “anti-smoking ambassadors.”