A year after the smoking ban was supposedly introduced here in Shanghai, the national government has decided to make a similar China-wide smoking ban in all cities and towns. The ban will prohibit smoking in public places, including on buses and in restaurants and bars. more ›

How has the Shanghai smoking ban, which was announced with much aplomb back in March, been faring? In the months since, just one place has been punished for violating the tobacco control law - an internet cafe in Baoshan District that was just issued a 2000RMB fine for allowing smokers during two different spot checks. So... either Shanghai's been really good about not smoking where designated, or it looks like all those enforcement problems came to fruition. more ›

The city's first smoking ban, which we followed from the time it was a wee bit of an idea to when it began being enforced against certain (underage) people, has officially taken effect for everyone today. The new law gives those who smoke in public places fines from 50RMB to 200RMB. more ›