Hangzhou Xiaoshan International Airport (HGH)

Hangzhou Xiaoshan International Airport is an outdoor-only airport for smokers. All indoor smoking rooms were permanently closed on January 1, 2019, following Hangzhou's city-wide Regulation on Smoking Control in Public Places. If you smoke, your only option is to use the designated outdoor areas along the carriageway outside the terminals, before you clear security.

Before Security

The airport maintains designated outdoor smoking zones along the carriageway (the roadway running in front of the terminal buildings) on both the arrivals and departures levels. These are open-air spots, free to use, and accessible to anyone before passing through security. Look for the marked zones near the terminal exits and entrances. No indoor smoking is permitted anywhere in the terminal building.

After Security

There are no smoking facilities of any kind after security at HGH. The indoor smoking rooms that previously existed at Gates 11, 18, and 19 were all closed when the new city regulation took effect in January 2019. No paid lounge at HGH is known to offer a smoking room or terrace that would give you an airside option. If you need to smoke after clearing security, you will have to exit the secure zone, use the outdoor area at the terminal front, and then re-clear security. Given typical queue times, budget at least 45 to 60 minutes for this if you are on a domestic flight, and longer for international departures.

New Terminal T4

A new Terminal 4 opened in 2024 as part of HGH's major expansion, positioning the airport as the second-largest aviation hub in the Yangtze River Delta after Shanghai Pudong. Smoking policy at T4 is consistent with the rest of the airport: outdoor-only, before security. No indoor smoking rooms have been reported in the new terminal.

Vaping Rules

China introduced a state monopoly on e-cigarettes in November 2022. Only tobacco-flavoured vapes are legal; all other flavours are banned. At the airport, vaping is treated the same as smoking, so you must use the designated outdoor smoking zones. Do not vape inside the terminal building.

Transit and Layovers

If you are transiting through HGH and need a smoke, exiting and re-entering security is technically possible but only practical if your layover is at least two to three hours. International transit passengers should also factor in any immigration requirements before re-entering the secure zone.

Bottom Line

Smoke before you go through security, at the outdoor zones along the terminal carriageway. Once airside, there is no option at all, paid or free.