A South China city is considering imposing heavy fines on retailers who sell cigarettes to under 18s, Yangcheng Evening News reported Tuesday.

Shenzhen of South China's Guangdong province has issued a draft regulation prescribing that those who sell cigarettes to minors may face a fine of no less than 30,000 yuan ($4,900).

A reporter from the paper visited eight primary and high schools in Shenzhen and found that shops around them all sold cigarettes.

China's law states that it is illegal to sell cigarettes to under 18s, but the exact punishment for breaking the law is unclear.

In October 2012, Shenzhen issued a regulation banning selling to minors or pregnant women and ordered notices about the dangers of smoking be displayed.