In China, around 23% of physicians (41% male, 3% female) currently smoke. Pharmacotherapy for tobacco dependence is available, but is not widely used in China. The purpose of this study was to estimate the effectiveness and the safety on smoking cessation of nicotine gum and nicotine patch in Chinese healthcare professionals. Three hundred regular smokers motivated to quit were recruited from six hospitals in China. All subjects were accepted nicotine replacement therapy, and they could choose nicotine gum (2 mg or 4 mg, depending on baseline smoking level) or nicotine patch (15 mg/16 h) for 12 weeks, with a 12-week follow-up. Limited behavioural support was provided. At Week 24, the 2--24 weeks continuous abstinence rate (verified by expired carbon monoxide) was 17%, the point prevalence abstinence rate (no smoking since the previous visit) was 35%, and 38% of subjects had continuously reduced their daily cigarette consumption by at least 50% versus baseline. Compliance with treatment was good, particularly with patch. No serious adverse event was reported, and most adverse events were mild or moderate. The most common treatment-related adverse events were gastro-intestinal (both gum and patch) and local irritation symptoms. Nicotine patch and gum were well tolerated in Chinese smokers. Abstinence rates were comparable to those previously reported with nicotine replacement therapy, and many smokers who did not quit substantially reduced their cigarette consumption.