Abstract: In order to study the effects of potassium salt content in cigarette paper on the smoking process of cigarettes, the cigarette paper samples with different K⁺ contents were designed and made into cigarette samples. The effects of K⁺ content in cigarette paper on the combustion status and dynamic draw resistance of cigarette samples were analyzed. The mechanisms of K⁺ on the temperature distribution in combustion cone during smoking and the routine chemical components in mainstream cigarette smoke were investigated by analyzing the thermogravimetric characteristics of cigarette paper. The results showed that: With the increase of K⁺ content in cigarette paper, 1) the maximum of the highest temperature of the combustion cone (T_max) and the average smoldering rate increased during smoldering stage; the maximum of T_max gradually decreased and the characteristic temperature (T_0.5) and volume (V) of the combustion cone and the average puffing rate of cigarette increased gradually during puffing, and the temperature distribution in the higher temperature zone of the combustion cone was more uniform; 2) the dynamic draw resistance of cigarette raised, which was consistent with the variation of the combustion cone volume above 600 ℃; 3) the pyrolysis activation energy of cigarette paper cellulose decreased, which affected the air intake near the combustion line and the combustion status of cigarette; 4) the routine chemical components in mainstream cigarette smoke reduced, and the puffing number negatively correlated to the distance of single puffing.