To assist more smokers willing to quit, the Beijing government announced the recruitment of the second batch of volunteers to join a program.

The first group of smokers began the program on July 27, and all the volunteers have now begun their journey.

The main tools and resources of the free smoking cessation program include a mobile application and the electronic version of the Quit Smoking Handbook.

The two types of resources, which aim to provide comprehensive guidance and support to individuals who are determined to quit, will be given to the volunteers, who will then be divided into two groups randomly. One group will use the app to manage their own behavior and consult online with smoking cessation doctors. The other group will receive the handbook, which was developed by the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention's Tobacco Control Office.

The handbook provides detailed information on tobacco dependence measurement, smoking addiction mechanisms and coping techniques, along with specific guidance for those in need.

The recruitment process will last until Sep 10. The whole program is free for participants.

It was rumored online that China Tobacco, the country's tobacco monopoly, had announced a 10-percent price increase. It issued an urgent statement late Sunday night stating that the information circulating about a cigarette price hike was false.

A retail price increase can be a useful measure to help reduce tobacco use, smoking control experts said.