Shenyang Taoxian International Airport (SHE)

Shenyang Taoxian International Airport (SHE) has a limited smoking policy that reflects China's national indoor smoking ban. Smoking inside the terminal building is not permitted, but you can smoke outside before security, and there is at least one designated smoking area reported airside near Gate 81.

Before Security

Landside, your only option is to step outside the terminal building. There are no designated indoor smoking rooms in the public (pre-security) area of the terminal. Head to any exterior exit door before you check in or clear security, and you can smoke on the pavement or kerbside area outside.

After Security

One designated smoking area has been reported near Gate 81 in the departure area past security. This appears to be the primary airside option for smokers at SHE. No paid lounges with dedicated smoking facilities have been confirmed in the available sources for this airport, so the Gate 81 area is likely your best bet once you have cleared immigration and security.

China Smoking Rules to Know

• China's national smoking ban (in force since 1 May 2011) prohibits smoking in all enclosed public indoor spaces.

• Lighters are banned in all Chinese airports. Wall-mounted cigarette lighters are typically provided in designated smoking areas, so you can light up there, but bring your own cigarettes. Pipe and cigar smokers may find it difficult to light up since the wall lighters are designed for cigarettes and cigarillos only.

• Enforcement of smoking rules can vary, but airport staff generally direct smokers to designated zones.

Vaping

No specific vaping policy for SHE has been confirmed in available sources. Given China's general indoor smoking restrictions and the fact that e-cigarettes are increasingly regulated in China, treat vaping the same as smoking and only use designated areas.

Transit and Layovers

If you are transiting through Shenyang and need a smoke, the Gate 81 area airside is your most practical option. There is no confirmed information about whether you can exit and re-enter the terminal for a landside smoke during a transit stop, so check with airport staff on arrival.

Bottom Line

Smoke outside the terminal before you go through security, or head to the designated area near Gate 81 once you are airside. No indoor landside smoking rooms are confirmed, and no paid lounges with smoking access have been reported here.