Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport (CAN)

Guangzhou Baiyun (CAN) is one of the more smoker-friendly major hubs in mainland China. Designated smoking rooms exist both before and after security, so you won't need to exit the terminal on a layover if you're flying through Terminal 2. The airport is mid-transition: the new Terminal 3 ("Bay Area Wing") opened 30 October 2025 and absorbed Terminal 1's domestic airlines from 7 May 2026, while Terminal 1 itself is now closed to passengers for renovation.

Before Security

The easiest smoke at CAN is outside, before you enter the terminal building.

• Terminal 2: Designated outdoor smoking areas are at the curbside near the main departures entrance, near the ground transportation center, and outside the arrivals exits.

• Terminal 3: Outdoor smoking areas are marked near the main entrances on both the departures and arrivals levels. Look for the smoking pictogram on signage.

• If you arrive by Metro Line 3 (Baiyun Airport North or South stations), step outside for a few minutes before heading up to departures.

After Security

Terminal 2 is the reliable choice for airside smoking at CAN. Several indoor smoking rooms operate past security:

• Near Gate A50 (one level below the main gate area): take the staircase down; electric cigarette-lighting devices are provided.

• Near Gate A62/A63 (international area, after security and border control): follow signs for Gates A60-A70; the room is to the left facing outwards. Confirmed open as of April 2026.

• Near Gate B50: a smoking room in the domestic B pier.

• Downstairs near Gates B60-B78: signed with a bilingual "Smoking Area" board; go downstairs from the main concourse level.

Terminal 3 (New, Opened October 2025)

T3's airside smoking provision is not yet fully documented. One traveler reported an open-air smoking area just before Gate 821, directly opposite Tsui Wah Restaurant, with a heat-activated lighting point (no personal lighters permitted past departure checkpoints). Treat T3 as primarily a smoke-before-security terminal until more reports come in, and use the landside outdoor areas if you can't locate the Gate 821 spot.

Terminal 1

Closed to passengers from 7 May 2026 and under renovation. All former T1 smoking rooms are inaccessible. If an old itinerary or map shows a T1 departure, check with your airline as the flight now leaves from T3 (domestic) or T2.

Lighters and Cigarettes

Personal lighters are banned on Chinese domestic flights. Electric lighters are installed inside the smoking rooms for your use. Disposable lighters are permitted on international flights, but fuel-type Zippos are confiscated at security. Cigarettes pass through CAN security without issues. International duty-free stocks standard premium brands; domestic-side has no duty-free tobacco.

Vaping

China has regulated e-cigarettes since November 2022 under a state monopoly: only tobacco-flavour vapes are legal, and non-Chinese vape products are restricted. At CAN, vaping is treated the same as smoking, so use the designated smoking areas.

Transit and Layovers

Transit passengers who need to smoke outside the terminal must enter the formal immigration queue, exit, smoke, then re-clear security. This makes the airside smoking rooms in T2 especially valuable for connecting passengers. Allow adequate time if you do need to exit.

Bottom Line

Fly through Terminal 2 if you want a guaranteed post-security smoke indoors; T3 has one reported open-air spot near Gate 821 but is otherwise treat-as-landside-only for now.