Shanghai, China
Smoking policy at Shanghai, Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport (SHA)
Warnings & Caveats
All indoor smoking rooms were permanently closed from October 31, 2016. Smoking anywhere outside designated areas is prohibited under Shanghai municipal law. Many older gate-area smoking spots listed on traveler sites are now out of date; always verify on arrival. Lighters and matches may be confiscated at security checkpoints at some Shanghai airports; fixed lighters are provided at several airside smoking points.
Shanghai Hongqiao (SHA) has a strict no-smoking-indoors policy in place since October 31, 2016, but designated smoking areas do exist both landside and airside in both terminals. All indoor smoking rooms were permanently closed that year; what remains are a handful of outdoor or semi-enclosed spots at specific gate areas. The situation has evolved since 2016, with traveler reports through 2025 confirming that airside options are real but limited and not always well-signed.
Before Security
Smoking before security is restricted to outdoor designated areas outside the terminal buildings. Both Terminal 1 and Terminal 2 have outdoor smoking spots accessible from the departures level, but you will need to exit the terminal to use them. Once you go back in, you pass through security screening again, so factor in the time cost.
Terminal 1 landside: Two outdoor smoking areas; entrances are near the long-haul terminal B1 of the Domestic Departure Hall and B17 of the International Departure Hall.
Terminal 2 landside: Two outdoor smoking areas; entrances near the Gate 41 and Gate 54 long-haul terminal areas of the Domestic Departure Hall.
Note: there are no lighters provided landside. Bring your own or ask a fellow smoker.
After Security
Airside options are limited but confirmed by recent traveler reports.
Terminal 1 (airside):
As of April 2025, there is one smoking area next to gate T-03 (reported by Gareth, April 2025). Earlier reports from March 2024 described a smoking area on the 4th floor of the international departure area, with lighters installed, accessible from the A9/A10 waiting halls. The image showing a door marked "吸烟点 / Smoking Area" on the 4F level corresponds to this location. Additional older reports listed areas at B6, B8, and international gate B15, but these may no longer be current.
The 4th-floor smoking room appears to be an enclosed room with a proper door and ventilation, based on the available photo.
Terminal 2 (airside):
A smoking area near Gate 41 is confirmed as of November 2025 (Markus) and April 2024 (Toby). Follow signs toward Gate 41 and head downstairs; fixed lighters are provided. Toby noted there are no directional signs leading to it specifically, so just follow the Gate 41 signs and look for it downstairs.
A smoking area near Gate 42 and Gates 51-54 was reported by Glenn in September 2020. The Gate 51-54 area was described as the primary airside spot at that time.
Older reports listed areas opposite Gates 23, 28, 29, 47, 19, 57, and near Gates 49, 50, 72, 73, and remote boarding halls, but these are explicitly flagged as out of date.
Vaping Rules
No specific vaping policy for SHA is mentioned in available sources. China has national restrictions on e-cigarettes in public spaces, so treat vaping the same as smoking and use only the designated areas.
Transit and Layovers
If you are transiting through SHA without re-clearing security, you are limited to the airside smoking areas described above. You cannot exit to the landside outdoor areas and re-enter without going through security again, so plan accordingly.
Bottom Line
Smoking is possible at SHA both before and after security, but the airside options are few and not always clearly signed. Your best confirmed bets in 2025 are the T1 4th-floor international smoking room and the T2 Gate 41 area downstairs.
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