Smoking among Chinese over 15 years of age has dropped to 31.1 percent, 6.5 percentage lower than that of 1996, According to a survey released by the China Consumers' Association.

Statistics from the "Smoking and Health Survey" shows that an increasing number of Chinese people now believed that smoking is detrimental to one's health.

Eight-two percent of those surveyed have become aware that smoking can lead to serious health problems. The figure represented a 16 percent increase from 1996.

Seventy-three said that they were against smoking, while majority of the respondents voiced their strong support to banning smoking in public places.

The survey also revealed that more than half of present smokers hope to gradually kick the habit.