The Chinese government raked in more than 75 billion dollars from tobacco tax in 2009. That's a jump of more than 8 billion dollars from the year before.
It follows an increase in taxes that the authorities had hoped would cut the number of smokers – as well as adding to government coffers.
But experts say that the though the tax hike may have helped the health of China's economy, it's done little to help the health of the nation's smokers – there's been no marked reduction in cigarette sales.
In today's Poll Position we look at a poll by news portal Sina.com on this topic.
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Yesterday smokers around the globe were encouraged not to light up as part of World No Tobacco Day. In China, home to the world's largest population of smokers, the day raises questions about how far the country has come in the fight against smoking and what still needs to be done. Neela Eyunni has more.