Wang Qian, a teacher at the Xingtai No 2 Middle School in Hebei, thinks that smoking among teenagers is a common problem and an increasing number of children are taking their first puff younger than ever.

"Maybe the media and movies are influencing them. Or maybe they smoke to release the pressure of studies," Wang told China Daily. "When we find out that our children are smoking, we should care for them and educate them, not criticize."

Several netizens posted that the girls' behavior was improper, with one calling them "silly".

Netizen "Lannan" wrote that the government should strengthen supervision of those who sell cigarettes.

According to Article 15 of the Law of the People's Republic of China on the Prevention of Juvenile Delinquency, "The parents or other guardians of minors and the schools shall educate minors not to smoke or drink excessively. No business place may sell cigarettes or wine to minors."

But clearly it is not too difficult for kids to get cigarettes.

The vice schoolmaster of the Foshan No 10 Middle School told Guangzhou Daily that the school had investigated the matter and found the girls in the photograph to be students at their school.

She said that many students who smoke think that smoking makes them look "cool and fashionable".

The school, the society and families should join hands to educate the students, she said.

"If shops stop selling cigarettes to minors and the parents do not smoke, with the education kids receive at the school, it won't be difficult to reduce smoking among children," she said.