For many Chinese train travelers, especially those going long distances and spending entire days or nights on the train, an easy instant noodle (pào miàn 泡面) meal and a quick cigarette break on the platform during a short stop are standard — even indispensable — parts of the journey.

But some changes may be on the horizon. Over the past few days, heated discussions on Chinese social media have focused on the future of these train “traditions.”

Instant noodles on long-distance trains have been a common way to eat since the early 1990s. Trains usually provide free boiling water to cook the noodles, making them a convenient way to have a hot meal for lunch or dinner — and much cheaper than the boxed rice meals offered on board.

Image via @人民网评.

This month, Guangzhou East Railway Station, along with Baiyun Railway Station, suddenly stopped selling instant noodles in station shops. The change, implemented in August, triggered the so-called “Railway Instant Noodles Debate” (高铁泡面话题).

According to reports, the decision is tied to nationwide railway efforts to “maintain cleanliness” in stations and on trains, and to provide passengers with “higher-quality service.”

Further adding to the unrest is the fact that the China Railway travel guide also advices passengers to avoid eating strongly odorous foods such as “durian, instant noodles” during their travels. Whereas regular instant noodles can be brought on board, they’re officially not recommended to eat. Durian and stinky tofu are not allowed, along with self-heating hotpots, which can trigger smoke alarms.

The phrase “High-speed railways are de-instant-noodling” (#高铁去泡面化#) trended on Weibo.

Although official railway customer service stated they have not received any notice about an official, nationwide ban on instant noodle sales in high-speed rail stations, the topic still generated major discussion.

At the core of the debate is this contradiction: everyone enjoys eating their own noodles on the train, but many people hate the smell of other people’s noodles. Beyond the strong smell, people walking through the carriage with their hot noodles also pose a safety hazard (not to mention the mess when someone accidentally drops their cup noodles).

 
Smoking on Train Platforms: The Stinkier Problem?
 

The noodle debate soon expanded into another topic: smoking on train platforms. Many netizens argue that smoking on platforms is a far more pressing issue than passengers eating noodles (#高铁站台禁烟比禁止吃泡面更紧迫#), as cigarette smoking before/during travel on the outside train platforms causes a real nuisance for people who just want some fresh air.

It’s clearly a hot topic these days, with various related hashtags going trending. One media post about banning smoking on platforms vs. banning noodles on trains received nearly 80,000 likes and thousands of comments.

In China, it’s very common for passengers to take a quick cigarette break on the platform before the train continues.

In the past, people smoked on the trains themselves, especially in the areas between carriages. Since 2014, however, smoking has been banned on all high-speed and regular trains.

Since 2022, the ban has extended to all other passenger trains, waiting halls, and indoor areas of railway stations.

Outdoor platforms remain the last tolerated place to smoke before a long journey or during a short stop.

But for many non-smokers, this practice is bothersome, as the lingering smell leaves them no smoke-free area to wait for boarding.

Lately, anti-smoking influencers have gained traction in China, posting videos of themselves confronting smokers in public. Applauded by some and criticized by others, this trend has further fueled the platform-smoking debate.

As part of this anti-smoking movement, more people are calling out the lack of enforcement of smoking bans in public areas.

Still, opinions remain divided. Many netizens dislike smoke on train platforms, but argue it would be difficult to enforce a ban outdoors. If platforms are banned, they say, then pedestrian streets, shopping districts, and other outdoor public spaces should be too.

In the end, though opinions vary, most people agree on one thing: the smell of noodles on a train can sometimes be unpleasant, but it’s nothing compared to the smell of cigarette smoke. For now, the majority of Chinese netizens seem to favor a smoking ban on train platforms over a “de-noodling” of the trains.

“The only thing I dislike about the smell of noodles is that it makes me regret not buying some myself,” one commenter wrote.

Another worried Xiaohongshu user wrote: “A train ride without the noodles is only half as fun!”

For now, passengers don’t need to worry about losing their much-beloved train noodles just yet. Whether or not station shops sell instant noodles, travelers can still bring their own as long as official regulations still allow it (and they do).

If you really want to play it safe: bring your own noodles but eat them in the train’s dining carriage, which also allows people to eat self-brought food.

And for those who want a quick smoke on the platform—it’s also still possible, though perhaps not for long.

By Manya Koetse

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Anti-smoking activism, especially by foreigners, has recently drawn attention on Chinese social media. A renewed online push to stop smoking in no-smoking areas highlights broader challenges of enforcing public smoking bans in a country where smoking remains prevalent.

From “smoking is prohibited in public spaces” (#公共场所禁止吸烟#) to “tobacco control” (#控烟#), anti-smoking hashtags have been popping up more frequently on Chinese social media. Many of them accompany videos from influencers who call out or try to stop people smoking where it’s not allowed.

Some of these influencers aren’t even Chinese.

In recent years, Chinese media reports and online discussions have fueled a perception among many netizens that foreigners in China often receive preferential treatment. In certain situations, this perception seems to hold true — perhaps linked to a belief among some officials that incidents involving foreigners are diplomatically sensitive and tied to China’s image. This can lead to extra caution or leniency in handling such cases, sometimes giving foreigners an unspoken advantage in public-facing services and spaces, from dormitories to restaurants.

Now, some netizens are suggesting that foreign residents use this “advantage” to report public smoking violations more actively.

A post on RedNote saying, “I hope every foreigner traveling to China will help complain about the problem of smoking in public spaces in China,” received many likes and thousands of comments.

Others even suggest that foreigners could quickly build their social media followings by posting such encounters, dubbing them “anti-smoking bloggers” or “smoking-dissuasion bloggers” (劝烟博主).

Foreign Influencers’ Anti-Smoking Efforts Go Viral

One of these anti-smoking foreign bloggers is Xiaohongshu blogger “Alibabame” (alibabame 艾伦, real name Malik X.). On July 30, he posted a video in which he asked two Chinese men to stop smoking in a restaurant with a prominent “No Smoking” sign, speaking mostly in English with some Mandarin phrases.

The exchange turned tense and turned into a verbal altercation, but the clip went viral — by 11 PM on August 1, it had attracted over 154,000 likes and 18,000 comments, his highest engagement rate to date according to Newrank data. His other most-viewed posts have also centered on smoking dissuasion.

Many of Alibabame’s videos focus on discouraging smoking in public.

In a follow-up video shared on August 1, Alibabame said local police had given him a surprising interpretation of the rules: if someone smokes in a no-smoking area but extinguishes the cigarette after being asked, they are not breaking the law. Many viewers expressed disbelief, with comment sections filled with criticism and calls for stricter enforcement.

From Online Clashes to Court Cases

These recent viral clips have turned a niche activist effort into a broader discussion about how China’s anti-smoking regulations are interpreted — and whether enforcement can match public expectations.

Shanghai, for instance, has comprehensive smoking control rules Indoor public venues, workplaces, and public transport — including e-cigarettes — are fully smoke-free, with individuals facing fines of 50–200 yuan (US$7-US$28) and establishments up to 30,000 yuan (US$4180) for failing to prevent smoking. Outdoor bans cover spaces for children and teenagers, medical facilities, sports and performance venues, heritage sites, and transit stops.

Violations can be reported via the Public Service Hotline 12345 or other hotlines.

Earlier this year, Shanghai also became the first mainland city to target “wandering smoking (游烟)” control measures, banning smoking while walking in outdoor queues, sidewalks, and at popular spots such as the Bund and Wukang Road. Offenders face fines of up to 200 yuan ($28).

Despite these measures, ensuring smoke-free environments remains a problem in Shanghai and across other mainland cities.

Recent high-profile cases illustrate the difficulties. On July 3, Renwu magazine (人物) published an article titled “The ‘Lin Zexu of Universities’ and the War Against Secondhand Smoke” (“高校“林则徐”与二手烟的战争“), profiling Shang Mengmeng (尚萌萌), a Beijing film school graduate student with extreme nicotine sensitivity. After leaving jobs due to smoke exposure, he hoped campus life would be different, only to encounter smoking indoors, even in elevators and classrooms. Since March, Shang has filed about 120 complaints using cigarette butts and ash as evidence, earning him the nickname “Modern Lin Zexu” — referencing the Qing Dynasty official famed for his anti-opium stance.

Supporters praise his persistence, but Shang has also faced backlash from smokers accusing him of “extremism,” and even some non-smokers questioning his approach. Shang maintains he is not against smoking itself, only against smoking in prohibited areas, framing it as a matter of personal freedom versus public health rights.

On June 28, 2025, the Shenzhen Health Commission published an article titled “Secondhand Smoke Is Actually a Form of Bullying” (Image: Shenzhen Health Commission WeChat account).

Another case, reported by Southern People Weekly (南方人物周刊) on July 27, follows Jin Lanlan (金烂烂), a young woman assaulted in a mall after asking a man to stop smoking. On November 11, 2024, Jin confronted Tang, who responded with verbal abuse and a kick. Police fined Tang 200 yuan ($28), but he refused to apologize or compensate, prompting Jin to sue.

At a July 22 court hearing, Tang’s lawyer rejected all demands. Jin, who experienced secondhand smoke-induced vomiting as a child and left art school due to teachers smoking indoors, sees her actions as defending her legal rights. While some hail her as a “fighter,” others — including her own mother, who speaks of her “making trouble” — question her persistence.

The Road Ahead for Smoking Control in China

These court cases, along with the online discussions around the videos of foreign influencer ‘Alibabame,’ reveal long-standing obstacles to public smoking control on the mainland.

➤ Generational divides play a role: younger people are generally more aware of secondhand smoke risks, while some older smokers see it as a personal choice. Smoking also remains embedded in social customs, such as offering cigarettes at business or family gatherings.

➤ Misunderstandings about “freedom” and “rights” compound the problem, with some smokers prioritizing personal choice over non-smokers’ health rights, and many non-smokers staying silent to avoid further conflict.

➤ Enforcement is another weak point. Responsibility is split among multiple agencies, creating gaps in oversight. In smaller cities and rural areas, limited resources make it harder to police high-risk venues like restaurants and internet cafés. Low fines — as little as 50 yuan (US$7) in some places — do little to deter violations.

Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan provide contrasting examples, with much higher on-the-spot fines — HKD1,500 (US$190), MOP1,500 (US$186), and NTD2,000–10,000 (US$62–310) respectively — and dedicated enforcement bodies such as Hong Kong’s Tobacco and Alcohol Control Office.

As more mainland residents speak out, calls for stricter enforcement are growing. Some netizens have even urged Alibabame to involve international media like The New York Times to pressure authorities, but he has declined, stressing that this is a domestic issue and expressing confidence that Chinese authorities will act.

Whether this wave of public attention will push Shanghai toward tougher enforcement, and whether similar measures could spread to other mainland cities, remains uncertain.

What is certain is that smoking control will be a long-term challenge in China, requiring stronger enforcement, higher penalties, and, perhaps most crucially, a cultural shift that prioritizes clean air for non-smokers as much as the “freedom” of smokers.

Meanwhile, Alibabame’s follower count is climbing — he gained over 79,200 new followers since his viral video. His popularity suggests growing online support for smoking-dissuasion influencers, both foreign and Chinese, who are taking a stand for smoke-free public spaces.

Also Read:

• Zhang Yue, “China’s First Anti-Smoking Campaigner” (“中国第一反烟人”)
• Social Media Blows Up over Chinese Teen Celebrity Roy Wang Smoking in Beijing Restaurant

 
By Wendy Huang
Edited by Manya Koetse

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