China makes more cigarettes than any other country, and almost all of them are sold only at home, so the names can be hard to place. This guide picks twelve that Chinese smokers in Australia ask for most, from everyday packs to the ones people give as gifts. For each you get the Chinese name, the style, the tar and nicotine printed on the pack, the size and the price.

中文简介：这篇挑了 12 款在澳华人最常买的中国烟，从日常抽的利群、蓝楼、玉溪，到中支的中华双中支、细支的炫赫门和金钗，再到送礼常用的大熊猫、中华金中支、黄鹤楼 1916、大重九。每款写了口味特点、焦油烟碱、规格和价格。全部品牌的中英文对照见这篇。

The twelve at a glance

Pack Style Tar / nicotine Size Price
Yunyan Purple 云烟 紫 Classic 11 / 1.1 mg Regular, 84 mm A$22
Huanghelou Hard Blue 黄鹤楼 蓝楼 Classic 11 / 1.1 mg Regular, 84 mm A$24
Nanjing Xuanhemen Slim 南京 炫赫门 Classic, slim 8 / 0.8 mg Slim, 97 mm A$24
Liqun New Edition 利群 白利 Classic 11 / 1.1 mg Regular, 84 mm A$25
Furongwang Hard 芙蓉王 Classic 11 / 1.2 mg Regular, 84 mm A$29
Yuxi Soft 软玉溪 Classic 11 / 1.0 mg Regular, 84 mm, soft pack A$29
Suyan Five-Star Red Fir 苏烟 小苏 Classic 11 / 1.0 mg Regular, 84 mm, soft pack A$29
Nanjing Twelve Hairpins Slim 金陵十二钗 金钗 Classic, slim 6 / 0.6 mg Slim, 97 mm A$31
Chunghwa Double Mid-Slim 中华 双中支 Classic 10 / 0.9 mg Mid-slim, 89 mm A$46
Huanghelou 1916 Hard 黄鹤楼 1916 Classic, premium 6 / 0.6 mg Regular, 84 mm A$64
Yunyan Dachongjiu 云烟 大重九 Classic, premium 8 / 0.8 mg Regular, 84 mm A$64
Panda Hard Classic 熊猫 大熊猫 Classic, premium 10 / 1.0 mg Regular, 84 mm A$85

Prices are per pack of 20. Tar and nicotine are the figures printed on the pack, per cigarette.

What makes Chinese cigarettes different

Most Chinese cigarettes are “flue-cured” (烤烟型): made almost entirely from flue-cured Virginia-type tobacco grown in Yunnan, Guizhou and Henan, without the burley and Oriental leaf blended into most Western cigarettes. The result is a sweeter, rounder, slightly honeyed smoke. If you’re used to Marlboro Red or Winfield, expect something smoother and less dry.

Sizes are another difference. Besides regular 84 mm sticks, China has popularised mid-slim (中支, about 89 mm) and slim (细支, about 97 mm) cigarettes, which burn cooler and lighter.

Everyday packs

Liqun New Edition (白利), Huanghelou Hard Blue (蓝楼) and Yunyan Purple (紫云) are the ones people smoke every day. All three are full-flavoured regular sticks at 11 mg tar. Liqun, from Zhejiang, is the sweetest and most popular in the east of China. Huanghelou from Hubei is a little more aromatic. Yunyan, from Yunnan, has the clean, bright taste Yunnan tobacco is known for.

Furongwang (芙蓉王) from Hunan and Yuxi Soft (软玉溪) from Yunnan sit a step above: still everyday packs, but the ones people offer guests. Yuxi is softer and sweeter; Furongwang slightly stronger, with 1.2 mg nicotine.

Slim and mid-slim

Nanjing Xuanhemen (炫赫门) is one of China’s best-selling slims: 8 mg tar, light and sweet. Twelve Hairpins (金钗) is lighter again at 6 mg.

Chunghwa Double Mid-Slim (中华双中支) is the mid-slim version of China’s most famous cigarette. It keeps Chunghwa’s rich, sweet taste in a slimmer stick and is one of the easiest premium packs to like.

Premium and gift packs

Panda (熊猫) is the cigarette famously associated with Deng Xiaoping, made in small quantities by Shanghai Tobacco and still the classic top-shelf gift. Huanghelou 1916 is Hubei’s premium line: very smooth and light at 6 mg tar. Dachongjiu (大重九) is Yunnan’s historic premium brand, first made in the 1920s, with a mellow, full aroma.

For a Chunghwa gift, Chunghwa Gold Mid-Slim (中华金中支) is the step up from Double Mid-Slim.

How to choose

  • Want something like your usual Western cigarette? Start with Furongwang or Huanghelou Hard Blue.
  • Want it lighter? Try Xuanhemen or Twelve Hairpins.
  • Buying a gift? Chunghwa, Panda or Huanghelou 1916 are the safe choices; everyone recognises the packs.
  • Not sure? Liqun is the one most Chinese smokers will happily accept.

FAQ

What is the most popular Chinese cigarette?

Chunghwa (中华) is the best known and most prestigious. For everyday smoking, Liqun, Huanghelou, Yunyan and Furongwang are among the biggest sellers.

Are Chinese cigarettes stronger?

Not usually. Most regular packs are 10 to 11 mg tar, similar to a Western full-flavour, and the flue-cured tobacco tastes smoother. Slims are lighter, 6 to 8 mg.

What does 中支 or 细支 mean on a pack?

中支 is mid-slim (about 89 mm, thinner than regular) and 细支 is slim (about 97 mm, thinner again).

See all Chinese cigarettes, or the full English–Chinese name list in Chinese Cigarette Brands in Australia.