Lanzhou Zhongchuan International Airport (LHW)

Lanzhou Zhongchuan International Airport (LHW) operates under China's national smoking regulations, which since May 2011 have banned smoking in all enclosed public areas. Designated smoking areas do exist at Chinese airports, but specific confirmed locations at LHW's new Terminal 3 (which opened March 2025) are not documented in available sources. If you are a smoker passing through Lanzhou, plan around the general Chinese airport framework: smoking is restricted to clearly marked designated zones only.

Before Security

Landside areas at Chinese airports typically have designated outdoor or semi-enclosed smoking spots near terminal entrances and exits. At LHW, the new Terminal 3 opened on 20 March 2025 and replaced the older Terminals 1 and 2. No specific landside smoking spot has been confirmed in available reports for the new terminal, but you should look for marked smoking zones near the main entrance doors before passing through security.

After Security

Chinese airports commonly provide designated smoking rooms or enclosed smoking cabins airside, past security. Given LHW's scale (87 gates across four piers in Terminal 3), it is reasonable to expect some airside smoking provision, but no specific gate locations or room names have been confirmed in current sources. Check signage once you are through security, as these rooms are typically marked with a cigarette symbol and are often tucked near restrooms or at the ends of concourses.

Lighters and Smoking Equipment

A practical note specific to all Chinese airports: lighters are banned throughout the terminal. Wall-mounted cigarette lighters are provided in designated smoking areas. These only work for cigarettes and cigarillos. If you smoke a pipe or cigars, you will not be able to light up inside the airport.

Vaping Rules

Vaping rules at LHW are not explicitly documented in available sources. China has introduced restrictions on e-cigarettes in public spaces, so treat vaping the same as smoking and only use designated areas. Do not vape in general terminal areas.

Transit and Layovers

LHW handles a significant volume of connecting traffic as a regional hub for Gansu and western China. If you have a layover, be aware that the airport is 71 km from downtown Lanzhou, so exiting to smoke outside and re-entering is not a practical option for short connections.

Bottom Line

Smoking at LHW follows standard Chinese airport rules: designated zones only, no lighters allowed (use wall-mounted lighters in smoking areas), and no confirmed specific room locations for the new Terminal 3 as of early 2026.