China Quitline — 12320 卫生热线

Frequently asked questions

Is there a national quitline in China?

Yes. China has a national professional quit-smoking hotline reachable at 400-808-5531 and 400-888-5531, which offers cessation counselling, medication advice and follow-up support. In addition, the national public-health hotline 12320 includes smoking-cessation guidance among its services. Both can be dialled from anywhere in mainland China.

Source: 中国疾病预防控制中心 (China CDC) — 控烟与戒烟

What is the difference between 12320 and the 400 quit-smoking hotline?

12320 is the broad national public-health hotline run by the health authorities; it answers many kinds of health question and also gives smoking-cessation guidance. The numbers 400-808-5531 and 400-888-5531 are the dedicated national quit-smoking hotline, staffed by counsellors who focus specifically on helping people stop smoking, including medication advice and ongoing follow-up.

Source: 国家卫生健康委员会 — 关于启用「12320」全国公共卫生公益电话的通知 , 中国疾病预防控制中心 (China CDC) — 控烟与戒烟

How much do the calls cost and is the help free?

The counselling is free. However, neither number is toll-free in the way an emergency line is: the national quit-smoking hotline uses "400" service numbers, which charge the caller the local-call rate, and 12320 is generally billed at standard local rates too. You pay only for the call itself, not for the advice.

Source: 国家卫生健康委员会 — 关于启用「12320」全国公共卫生公益电话的通知

What support do the lines offer?

The national quit-smoking hotline (400-808-5531 / 400-888-5531) provides personalised cessation counselling, answers questions about quit medications, corrects common misconceptions and can arrange proactive follow-up calls. 12320 offers general smoking-cessation guidance and can point callers toward local quit-smoking clinics and other health services.

Source: 中国疾病预防控制中心 (China CDC) — 控烟与戒烟

Who runs the hotlines, and in what language and hours?

Tobacco control in China is coordinated by the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention (China CDC) together with partner organisations, in line with WHO guidance. Calls are handled in Mandarin (Putonghua). The national quit-smoking hotline offers automated voice information around the clock, with live counsellors typically available from morning until evening, every day of the year.

Source: 中国疾病预防控制中心 (China CDC) — 控烟与戒烟 , World Health Organization — China, Tobacco