As recorded in Qing Dynasty archives, among Cixi's burial articles are bronze water pipes, silvery water pipes and silvery-tide water pipes, all of which were exquisitely designed. Over recent years, there have been a large number of films and TV series about Cixi, which depicts her smoking a water bong while dealing with political affairs.

Why did Cixi choose to smoke water bongs, rather than snuff or pipe tobacco? The answer lies in four facts. To begin with, this was one of Cixi's personal hobbies. Second, she did so to distinguish herself from the men in the palace, who largely smoked pipe tobaccos. Third, Cixi is a Manchu descendant and like other minority groups, most Manchu people use snuff bottles or smoked water bongs. Finally, smoking water bongs was both elegant and hygienic in Cixi's eyes.

When she would smoke the water bong, a young eunuch would stand by her side to servethe tea or light the tobacco. As is reflected in historical records, when the master was to smoke, the eunuch had to kneel on the ground with the water bong in his hand to prepare for loading or lighting the tobacco at any time.

In Zhangye, an ancient city in northwest Gansu province, people used to entertain their guests with water bongs. As soon as the guests entered a house, the host would pass them a water bong and invite them to get a couple of tokes. This was a custom of Zhangye people, who believed smoking water bong could help them recover from fatigue.
　
Water bong smokers used to be found almost everywhere from urban towns to rural areas and there were several wate r bongs in each household, for private use or for entertaining friends and relatives. Some elderly people, while visiting relatives or friends, usually brought with them their water bongs.

Water bongs used to be an indispensable household smoking tool. They were also seen in some large shops. Rather than going straight to business, shop owners would treat the customers with a few tokes of water bong. In teahouses, restaurants and theaters, water bongs were also available for a small amount of money.

Now, with the social and economic development, water bongs have gradually disappeared, to be replaced by cigarettes.

Author: Jessie