The modern electronic cigarette's design was devised by Chinese pharmacist Hon Lik in 2003, though the earliest known description of its concept was authored by Herbert A. Gilbert in 1963.

And while in my location I have sometimes see them for sale at major cigarrete/liquor stores (not at small ones), I have no idea of where near you. But browse on Internet on the sites below, and you may buy them on line too.

http://www.made-in-china.com/products-search/hot-china-products/E-Cigarette.html

http://e-cigarette-china.com/

http://e-cig.com/shopping/default.asp

The e-cig infomercials they used to run were the best. There'd be a young married couple (hammy actors) talking about their miscarriage with dramatic, misty flashbacks. Then, when they got to the part where second hand smoke caused the miscarriage, the wife would start crying and screaming at the husband, and the husband would start crying and looking downwards in face-loosing shame. It's hard to explain, but the tastlessness combined with the screaming combined with the manipulative sales tactics was just hilarious.

Anyway, you will see them in certain tobacconists' and sometimes in convenience stores. They shouldn't be too hard to find.

Yeah, you can see non-stop ads on the advertisement channels. With great actors who totally know how to smoke, and invisible green screen effects. But apparently very few people dare 'smoking' those.

You can also find them on Taobao (of course).

Are e-cigs more popular in China now?

When I left the UK, they were really rare. 3 years later, they are everywhere!

All the kit for refillable "Shisha Pens" are made in China...but will they catch on?

I've seen them to buy on taobao, but do actual physical shops sell them now?

Perhaps China will be a tough nut to crack?

1) Cigs are still really cheap. Zhongnanhai = 7 rmb, Japanese Salem = 17 rmb

2) The tobacco companies are mostly state owned.

3) Less smoking = more pensions/healthcare to try and provide.

4) Mianxi!....the more expensive the cigs you offer out, the more important you are!

Personally speaking e-cigs rock...1000% better than smoking. Down to 0.6% nicotine now, next stop is zero!