Jazmin Li
Smoking is prohibited inside Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK). However, there are 17 designated smoking areas outside the terminal buildings. Travellers must obtain a 24-hour TWOV to leave the airport, which can take between one to two hours in queues. In 2018, some travellers reported that janitors allowed them to smoke in the bathrooms for a small fee, although this is not recommended.
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What You'll Learn
Smoking is not permitted inside Beijing Airport
If you are a smoker, Beijing Airport may be a challenging place to navigate. Smoking is not permitted inside Beijing Airport, and there are no smoking facilities inside the terminal buildings. This includes smoking rooms or smoking lounges, which do not appear to be available for travellers.
For those who wish to smoke, the only option is to leave the airport. However, this is not a simple process, as you will need a 24-hour TWOV (Transit Without Visa) to exit the airport, which can take between 1-2 hours of queuing. It is also important to note that attempting to exit the airport without the proper visa may result in issues with immigration officers. While some travellers have reported being allowed to exit the airport to smoke, this is not guaranteed, and there is a risk of encountering sympathetic immigration officers who may expect payment for their leniency.
It is important to be aware that smoking is also prohibited on domestic flights in China. This ban includes all passengers, crew, and pilots on board. The ban was enforced due to safety hazards caused by smoking crew members, with one incident in 2018 causing a rapid descent and the deployment of oxygen masks.
While you may encounter janitors or other staff who offer to allow you to smoke in the bathrooms for a fee, this is illegal and not recommended. The only option for those who wish to smoke is to obtain the proper visa and exit the airport through the designated process.
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Passengers must exit the airport to smoke
If you are a smoker passing through Beijing Airport, you will need to exit the airport building to smoke. There are no indoor smoking areas inside the Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK) terminal buildings. However, the airport has established 17 outdoor smoking areas, which can be found by following the clear English signs.
If you are on a stopover, you may need a 24hr-TWOV to leave the airport, which could take between 1-2 hours of queuing. It is also worth noting that, while China has recently enforced a ban on smoking in the cockpit for domestic flights, international flights are exempt from this rule.
If you are desperate for a cigarette, you may find a sympathetic immigration officer who will allow you to exit the airport to smoke. However, some travellers have reported that they were too anxious to attempt this, worrying that the officer might demand money to let them back in.
In addition, some people have reported that janitors will allow people to smoke in the bathrooms for a small fee, but this is illegal and not recommended.
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There are no designated smoking rooms inside the airport
If you are a smoker, Beijing Airport may not be the ideal place for you. There are no designated smoking rooms inside the airport terminal buildings. However, the airport has established 17 outer smoking areas, which can be easily located by following the clear English signs.
If you are on a stopover and wish to leave the airport terminal to smoke, you may need a visa. Obtaining a 24-hour TWOV, which allows you to leave the airport, can take between 1-2 hours of queuing. Alternatively, some people have found a way to smoke without a visa by bribing janitors to let them smoke in the bathrooms, but this is illegal and not recommended.
It is important to note that China has strict rules regarding smoking. In 2017, a complete in-flight smoking ban for Chinese airlines went into effect, prohibiting passengers, crew, and pilots from smoking on domestic flights. This ban was enforced due to safety hazards caused by smoking crew members, such as an incident in 2018 where an Air China pilot turned off the aircraft cabin's air conditioning system while smoking, causing the plane to rapidly descend and oxygen masks to deploy.
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A visa is required to leave the airport to smoke
If you are transiting through Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK) and want to leave the airport to smoke, you may need a visa. China offers a 10-day visa-free transit policy for passport holders from countries including the United States, the United Kingdom, and Canada. This policy allows travellers to leave the airport and enter the city during their layover without a separate transit visa. However, the time required to pass through immigration and customs is normally 1.5 to 2 hours, and transportation to and from the airport will also reduce the time available for sightseeing. Therefore, with a layover of less than 8 hours, it may not be practical to leave the airport to smoke, even with a visa-free policy.
To qualify for the visa-free transit policy, travellers must have a valid passport, a confirmed ticket for a connecting flight departing within 24 hours, and a completed arrival/departure card. Some sources state that a visa is required for any traveller wishing to leave Beijing Airport during a layover, while others claim that it is possible to leave the airport without a visa during a short stopover. It is important to note that attempting to leave the airport without the proper documentation could result in being denied entry back into the airport.
If you are unable to leave the airport during your layover, there are designated smoking areas outside the terminal buildings. These outer smoking areas are clearly signed in English, making them easy to locate. Additionally, some travellers have reported that janitors allow smoking in the bathrooms for a small fee, but this practice is not officially sanctioned and may carry some risks.
If you are considering leaving Beijing Airport during a layover to smoke or for any other reason, it is essential to carefully research the visa requirements that apply to your specific situation. The rules and regulations can change, and it is the responsibility of the traveller to ensure they have the correct documentation to comply with Chinese immigration policies.
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There are 17 designated smoking areas outside the airport
If you are a smoker passing through Beijing Airport, you will be glad to hear that there are 17 designated smoking areas outside the airport. These are clearly signposted in English, so you should have no trouble locating them.
Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK) does not have any indoor smoking areas. If you are in the airport and need to smoke, you will have to go outside. This may involve some time spent queuing, and you will need a 24-hour-TWOV to leave the airport.
Some travellers have reported that they were allowed to exit the airport to smoke and then re-enter, but this is not guaranteed. Another option is to find a sympathetic janitor who will allow you to smoke in one of the bathrooms for a small fee, but this is not recommended as it is illegal.
If you are connecting flights, you must enter China and smoke outside the terminal and then go through security again for your next flight. It is important to note that there is a complete in-flight smoking ban for Chinese airlines, so you will not be able to smoke during your flight.
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Frequently asked questions
No, there are no smoking facilities inside Beijing Airport.
Yes, the airport has established 17 outer smoking areas.
Yes, you need a 24hr-TWOV to leave the airport, which takes 1-2 hours of queuing.
Some travellers have reported that janitors allow people to smoke in the bathrooms for a small fee, although this is illegal.
Smoking is banned on all domestic flights in China. However, on international flights, pilots and crew are still allowed to smoke in the cockpit.
