The World Health Organization and some members of the public said they welcome the extended smoking ban in Shanghai, which is aimed at shielding residents from secondhand smoke.

The new regulation prohibiting smoking at all public indoor venues and indoor working areas was recently approved by the city's legislative body, the Shanghai Municipal People's Congress, and will take effect in March next year.

Other locations included in the extended smoking ban are a greater number of outdoor places, such as artistic performance and sports venues, open areas at maternity and infant hospitals and the bus stops.