Job Discussion Forums

tomseslcafe · Joined: 25 Feb 2015 Posts: 17 Location: Bangkok, Thailand

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 · Joined: 10 Jun 2010 Posts: 1549

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 · Joined: 26 Apr 2012 Posts: 880

Does Chinese society look down on women smoking?

Lack · Joined: 10 Aug 2011 Posts: 252

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

tomseslcafe · Joined: 25 Feb 2015 Posts: 17 Location: Bangkok, Thailand

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 · Posted: Wed Mar 18, 2015 11:28 pm Post subject:

mandu · Joined: 29 Jul 2004 Posts: 794 Location: china

I hate the smoking that goes on in the gym

3701 W.119th · Joined: 26 Feb 2014 Posts: 386 Location: Central China

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 · Joined: 20 Jan 2015 Posts: 583

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.