Tobacco is getting cheaper for mainland China's more than 300 million smokers, according to a new government report.
The ranks of the country's smokers rose 15 million over the past five years to 316 million, but the proportion remained unchanged.
About one in four or 27.7 per cent of mainland Chinese smoke, the 2015 China Adult Tobacco Survey found.
More than half of men or 52.1 per cent are smokers and 2.7 per cent of women, said the survey report released on Monday by the Chinese Centre for Disease Control and Prevention.
The average price of a pack of cigarettes increased to about 9.9 yuan ($A2.11) over the past five years but that was actually cheaper for most people when taking into account their rising purchasing power, the report said.
Cigarettes that sell for more than 15 yuan a pack are considered premium quality but other brands can sell for as low as 4 yuan.
In May, China raised the tax on cigarettes nationwide from 5 per cent to 11 per cent.
Each smoker consumes an average 15.2 cigarettes per day, an increase of one cigarette from five years ago, the study found.
About 740 million people, including 180 million children, are affected by passive smoking, which causes 100,000 deaths a year, according to the Chinese health commission.
In 2011, China's Health Ministry banned smoking in all public indoor spaces including hotels and restaurants nationwide but the vague guidelines were often flouted by businesses and individuals.
Beijing imposed a ban on smoking in all indoor public places on June 1.
