China has banned students and visitors from smoking at elementary and secondary schools, kindergartens and vocational schools.

However, the new rule passed by the education and health ministries has limited smoking to designated areas in higher-learning institutions, Xinhua reported citing an official statement.

At institutions of higher-learning, no faculty, staff, students or visitors will be permitted to smoke in non-smoking areas like classrooms and libraries.

The new rule also forbids tobacco products to be sold on campus, and teachers have been asked to refrain from smoking in front of students.

The notice also asks for no-smoking signs to be posted in conspicuous locations at schools.

Every year, at least one million people die of smoking-related diseases in China, according to official statistics.