Navigating a massive international hub during a layover or before a long-haul flight can be stressful, especially when you are looking for a designated smoking area. Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport (CAN), one of Asia's busiest aviation hubs, has undergone significant structural changes.

If you are travelling through CAN, this guide covers the current terminal status, smoking zone locations, lounge access and the regulations you need to know.

Terminal Status at Guangzhou Baiyun Airport

Before searching for a smoking area, check which terminal your flight operates from:

Terminal 1 (T1)

Closed

T1 has ceased regular passenger operations. Do not look for smoking zones in T1: flights previously using it have moved to Terminals 2 and 3.

Terminal 2 (T2)

Open

The operational hub of China Southern Airlines, its partner airlines and various major international carriers.

Terminal 3 (T3)

Open

A state-of-the-art terminal housing multiple domestic and international airlines.

Landside Smoking Areas (Before Security)

Whether you arrive by taxi, subway or intercity rail, or are waiting to check in, smoking inside any enclosed terminal hall before security is strictly prohibited. To smoke before screening, walk outside the main departure or arrival curbside and look for the designated outdoor smoking posts with standing ashtrays.

T2 Landside

Outdoors along the Departure Level (3F) drop-off curbs outside Gates 41–45, and outside the Arrival Level (1F) bus and taxi pickup zones.

T3 Landside

Outdoors outside the main Departure Level (3F) entrances (near Gate 62) and at the Ground Transportation Center (GTC) plazas.

Terminal 2 Airside Smoking Rooms (After Security)

China enforces strict indoor smoking bans, but major hubs such as Baiyun T2 have purpose-built, well-ventilated indoor smoking rooms airside, so you do not need to leave security during a long transfer.

Domestic Departures

  • Gate A62 area: on the main concourse level; look for the illuminated "Smoking Room" overhead sign.
  • Remote gate concourses: down the escalators near the lower-level bus boarding gates (for buses to remote aircraft stands), with compact ventilated smoking booths.

International Departures

  • Main duty-free concourse (4F / gate areas): near the central international boarding concourse; follow the blue glass rooms clearly marked with smoking symbols.

Premium Lounges in Terminal 2

If you hold a business or first class ticket or qualifying elite status (for example, with China Southern's Sky Pearl Club), you do not need to use the public smoking rooms:

China Southern Domestic First/Business Lounge (3F)

Features a dedicated glass-enclosed indoor smoking room with air purification systems.

China Southern International Lounge (4F)

Includes an upscale, secluded smoking room within the lounge amenities area.

Terminal 3 Open-Air Smoking Terraces

With its open-air architectural features, Terminal 3 offers a more comfortable experience than traditional enclosed glass booths.

Gate A821 Open-Air Zone

In the main departure wing near Gate A821, a designated open-air garden terrace lets you smoke in fresh air rather than a fully enclosed, recirculated-air room.

Central Concourse Smoking Booths

Additional glass-enclosed smoking booths along the main pier branches, near the central restroom and water dispenser clusters.

Lighters, Matches and E-Cigarette Rules in China

When travelling through any mainland Chinese airport, keep these regulations in mind:

Lighters and Matches

Zero tolerance
  • The Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) strictly forbids lighters and safety matches in both carry-on and checked baggage.
  • All lighters are confiscated at security checkpoints.
  • How to light up airside: designated smoking rooms have wall-mounted electric lighters. Press the button or push your cigarette into the heating element, similar to a car lighter socket.

Vapes and E-Cigarettes

Carry-on only
  • E-cigarettes and vaping devices must be kept in your carry-on baggage, never in checked luggage, because of lithium battery risks.
  • Vaping in general terminal areas, restrooms or gate seating is illegal. Use the designated smoking rooms or terraces for e-cigarettes too.

Baiyun Airport Smoking Areas: Quick Summary

Terminal Status Airside Smoking Location Key Features
Terminal 1 Closed Not applicable Do not go to T1.
Terminal 2 Open Near Gate A62, remote gates and premium lounges Enclosed glass rooms with wall-mounted electric lighters.
Terminal 3 Open Near Gate A821 and pier concourse nodes Open-air terrace smoking areas.

Baiyun Airport Smoking FAQ

Smoking is prohibited in all enclosed terminal halls before security. After security, you can only smoke in designated airside smoking rooms or open-air terraces in Terminals 2 and 3.

Head outside to the designated outdoor smoking posts with standing ashtrays. In T2, they are along the Departure Level (3F) curbs outside Gates 41–45 and at the Arrival Level (1F) pickup zones; in T3, outside the Departure Level (3F) entrances near Gate 62 and at the Ground Transportation Center plazas.

Yes. Terminal 2 has ventilated indoor smoking rooms near Gate A62 on the domestic concourse, at the lower-level remote bus gates and in the international duty-free concourse on 4F.

Yes. Terminal 3 has an open-air garden terrace near Gate A821, plus glass-enclosed smoking booths along the main pier branches near the central restrooms and water dispensers.

No. Terminal 1 has ceased regular passenger operations, and flights have moved to Terminals 2 and 3, so do not go to T1 to look for smoking areas.

No. The Civil Aviation Administration of China forbids lighters and safety matches in both carry-on and checked baggage, and they are confiscated at security.

Designated smoking rooms have wall-mounted electric lighters. Press the button or push your cigarette into the heating element, similar to a car lighter socket.

Yes, but only in your carry-on baggage. E-cigarettes and vaping devices are not allowed in checked luggage because of lithium battery risks.

No. Vaping in general terminal areas, restrooms or gate seating is illegal. Use the designated smoking rooms or terraces for e-cigarettes as well.