Job Discussion Forums

[tomseslcafe]

After working in China for two years there is once aspect of the culture that has never ceased to shock me and that is the amount of smoking that goes on here. For anyone that is considering coming to China this is something to take into consideration. They smoke everywhere, when you are walking behind them in the street, in the table next to yours at the restaurant and sometimes even in the elevator. In the restaurant and the elevator they will not stop even if you ask them too. Since I am a pretty health conscious person it is appalling to me to see this many people smoking! I just can't get used to this at all.

[rogerwilco]

You forgot the very frequent smoking in the restrooms..
It is annoying having to use a restroom full of men smoking, and then when you leave the stink of smoke is all over you.

[rioux]

Does Chinese society look down on women smoking?

[Lack]

Don't forget smoking in hospitals...the doctors and nurses smoking no less...

[tomseslcafe]

Chinese society does seem to frown upon female smokers, I have only seen a handful of them smoking. Thankfully there are two places where they don't smoke, the subway and at my office. My Chinese wife told me that the government has decreed that smoking is not allowed on the subway so people are afraid to do so there.

I agree with a previous poster that smoking in the bathroom is extremely annoying. Sometimes I am peeing and a smoker comes to the urinal next to me and I can't get away from the smoke because I am peeing!

I hate to say it but my (Chinese) father in law is a smoker and he is a doctor!

[JamesD]

[mandu]

I hate the smoking that goes on in the gym

[3701 W.119th]

I'm a heavy smoker, but I'm still bothered by guys smoking in restaurants, elevators, public toilets, etc. (and it's always men).

Ladies do smoke here, but not in public. I've never seen a Chinese woman smoking outside.

[hdeth]

I've only seen maybe 1 or 2 women smoking in public, but they do in private. There are also "lady's cigarettes," which are flavored with menthol or whatever. My girlfriend is totally against smoking but smoked a few of those because her aunt gave them to her and they were expensive (can't throw something expensive away...have to use it...).

The internet cafes are the worst...fog of smoke surrounding all the kids playing video games.

[kev7161]

Smoking in elevators is the worst! Smoking in some of those dreadful bathrooms is actually more appealing to me as it somewhat quashes the other nasty odors. The place where I get my foot massage has signs in the rooms (by law, I was told) for "no smoking" . . . with an ashtray placed directly below it. To be fair, they are always clean! A lot of places say "no smoking" and they mean it. Teachers cannot smoke within school grounds where I work. Many malls and western restaurants (like Starbucks or McDonald's) absolutely forbid it and enforce it too! But most local Chinese restaurants and other hang outs are all about allowing smokers. Luckily, I don't frequent them.

[boomhauer20055]

You're free to move to a country with stricter smoking laws. I tell myself, I don't have to live here, when the Chinese habits annoy me. I chose to live here!

[shaka]

Sadly, rampant smoking probably doesn't crack my top ten list.

[water rat]

[fpshangzhou]

I'm a smoker and this is heaven to me. Reminiscent of old Las Vegas before the crackpot Californians brought their crapola liberal values and ruined everything. I say Smoke away and screw all those who oppose!!. Gotta love smoking China!

Cheers,

Up in Smoke

[The_Kong]