Someone's good news is someone else's bad news: Shanghai is, once again, tightening up on smoking.

The city's 2026 plan doesn't reinvent the rules, but it does expand them. More no-smoking zones (including places like bus stops), more inspections, and — because of course — more tech in the mix, with AI-assisted monitoring expected to help spot violations.

So yes, the indoor smoking ban is still the backbone. But this round nudges things further: wider coverage, stricter enforcement, and fewer grey areas for venues still playing dumb.

To Shanghai's credit, it keeps pushing this stuff forward. More consistently than plenty of cities that technically ban smoking and then just... don't.

If it sticks, nights out might get a bit more breathable.