China has enacted a new rule to ban smoking in enclosed public spaces. The new rule will take effect on May 1 and has been added to the revised regulations on health management in public places from the country's Ministry of Health.

The revised regulations also stipulate that business owners with public places should put up non-smoking signs, carry out promotional activities to warn people of the danger of smoking and dispatch personnel to dissuade smokers.

Furthermore, the smoking area in outdoor locations should not occupy people's paths and cigarette vending machines should be excluded from public places. However, the new rule does not list any penalty provisions for violators, which arouses doubts over how the new legislation will be implemented.