Nanjing Lukou International Airport (NKG)

Nanjing Lukou (NKG) follows mainland China's 2016 indoor smoking ban, which means no indoor smoking rooms exist anywhere in the terminals as a general rule. Landside, you can smoke at designated outdoor zones near the terminal exits. Airside is more complicated: older reports from 2019-2020 described a few designated smoking spots in Terminal 2's domestic departure area, but a January 2025 update from a traveler explicitly states there is no smoking room after security in Terminal 2's domestic terminal.

Before Security

Smoking before security is straightforward. Designated outdoor zones are located near the arrivals and departures curbside areas outside both Terminal 1 and Terminal 2. These are free to use, marked with standard Chinese/English signage, and are the most reliable option for smokers at NKG.

• Terminal 1 and Terminal 2 exterior: Outdoor smoking zones at curbside near arrivals and departures levels. No fee, open access.

After Security

This is where things get murky, and you should plan conservatively.

• Terminal 2, Domestic Departures (3F): A 2020 airport map showed three designated smoking spots on the domestic departure floor: one near Gate 12 (reported as likely closed even then), one near Gate 20 (existence unconfirmed), and one between McDonald's and Subway near Gate 14. Photos from 2019 confirm the McDonald's/Subway spot existed and was in use, with a floor-standing ashtray and limited seating. However, a January 2025 traveler report states no smoking room exists after security in Terminal 2's domestic terminal, suggesting this area has since been closed or removed.

• V3 CIP Lounge (Terminal 2): One report from 2020 noted a smoking area inside the V3 CIP lounge, accessible only to China Eastern Airlines Business Class passengers. It is unknown whether this remains operational.

• Terminal 1: No specific after-security smoking information is available.

Vaping Rules

China implemented a state monopoly on e-cigarettes in November 2022. Only tobacco-flavored vapes are legal; all other flavors are banned. At airports, vaping is treated the same as smoking: outdoor zones only. Bringing non-Chinese vape products into the country is restricted.

Transit and Layovers

If you have a layover of three or more hours, exiting security to smoke outdoors and re-clearing is feasible. For shorter connections, especially domestic ones, factor in queue times at security before committing to this plan.

Bottom Line

Smoke before security at the outdoor curbside zones; airside smoking at NKG appears to have been eliminated as of early 2025, and even the previously reported spots were unreliable. Do not count on finding anywhere to smoke after clearing security.