吸烟的习俗从哥仑布发现新大陆之后开始，其历史至今不过几百年，可是在世界各国，吸烟的人数和吸烟的数量却在以难以置信的速度增加，远远超过了喝酒的人数。

Feminine China is puffing-and puffing hard-as the age of adolescent smokers here becomes even younger.

The number of female smokers in this country is gaining momentum as well, and tobacco companies are taking advantage by stepping up their advertising campaigns.

They are looking for ways to appeal to women. From packaging designed for women's tastes to using words like "mild" and "mellow" to describe their cigarettes, advertisers have prompted the figures to shoot up in urban areas as compared to rural areas, where the figures show 2-4 percent of the total female population smoke.

So what's the image of women who smoke? Jiang Yuan is the deputy director of the Tobacco Control Office of the Chinese Centre for Disease Control and Prevention.

"In the traditional culture if the female is a smoker it is like a bad girl or a bad lady. Currently from our survey, big cities like Beijing and Shanghai, the surveys data shows smoking rate among females is like 8 percent already, so this is like fashion. "

In major cities especially, most tobacco companies are taking their marketing to the next level by packaging cigarettes in pink or pastel colors.

And today, smoking is such a way of life in China that many young people start at a shockingly tender age.

"My name is Sun Jiumei ……(When did you start smoking?) At 6 years old. (Why did you start smoking at 6 years old?) No reason. (Do your parents smoke?) Yes my father smokes. But I want to smoke and it's not other peoples business."

This is a typical attitude of young female smokers on the streets here. Even though they acknowledge the consequences that come with this habit, they really don't seem to care.

"(So how old are you now if you don't mind?) Nineteen. (How does it make you feel when you smoke?) Nothing. If I don't smoke it's ok. I don't have to smoke, it's just that I wanna smoke. (Do you know that smoking is dangerous?) I know it's bad for health but I don't wanna live so long. (why don't you want to live so long?) I think if I was older, maybe 50 or 60, I think life is not exciting"

On the other hand, Sun Jiumei's friend Juan Zuo lit up her first cigarette at age 16 due to peer pressure in school.

"(How old are you now) Twenty. (how do you feel when you smoke? I think it's cool. Have you tried to stop smoking? No cause I don't think it's a bad thing. Women like smoking now in China, it doesn't matter. )"

Here, smoking is continually seen as just a custom. And it may not matter whether it's a good or bad one. According to Professor Zang Yingnian, a social activist in China, tobacco companies are even allowed to sponsor schools and almost half of all male doctors smoke.

Professor Zang points out that the laws regulating smoking in China haven't been reinforced effectively.

"That's to say that everyone has a chance to smoke wherever and whenever they want to. Then of course the non-smokers, their voice is very weak. Plus the examples set by doctors, and teachers and parents and celebrities, therefore the kids have every reason to go ahead without much restrictions, and it's a pity, as a matter of fact."

Notably, as you travel around major cities you will find smoking taxi drivers - male and female. Asked why they love smoking, many will refer to their leaders, like founder of Modern China Mao Zedong, as an inspiration.

Jiang Yuan, however, says the major problem lies in the pricing of cigarettes in China.

"In China we do not have too much policy. Like the tobacco price is relatively low. The average price from our survey is 5 yuan compared to other countries its relatively low. And almost everywhere you can smoke. At home, in the office."

In May 2008, the Beijing City Council prohibited smoking in enclosed public areas, including airports, bars and restaurants, workplaces, educational and medical facilities and hotels, in order to comply with China's promise to make the 2008 Summer Olympics venues smoke-free.

But Professor Zang Yingnian says one way to discourage smoking is to limit the chances of people adopting the practice.

Without any restrictions, it's hard for smokers to quit. And in the meantime, wedding dinner rituals continue to include the bride lighting cigarettes for each of her male guests, and junior employees continue to offer cigarettes to their bosses.

Therefore, whether or not this national addiction will really stop remains to be seen.

For CRI, I am Nillah Nyakoa.

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