SHANGHAI: Lawmakers in Shanghai are moving to ban billboards recently put up by major cigarette brand "Chung Hua" that covertly advertise smoking by urging people to "Love China".

The cigarette company's advertisements feature a Ai Wo Chung Hua (Love China) slogan emblazoned on bright red billboards with a picture of Beijing's landmark Tian'anmen Gate. "Chung Hua" can mean China in Chinese.

The billboards also include health notices that read "Smoking can damage your health".