Tap water in China

Not safe to drink

This reflects the CDC's travel health guidance for China; no WHO coverage figure is published for this country. National figures describe a country, not the tap in front of you.

What the sources say

US CDC Travelers' Health

Advises travellers that tap water is generally not safe to drink in China.

Numbeo

40.66/100 on the water drinkability and accessibility index, which Numbeo reads as “Moderate”. This one is crowdsourced from residents rather than measured.

Lonely Planet

In general, you should never drink the tap water in China, even in five-star hotels. Boiling water makes it safe to drink, but you might still prefer to buy bottled water for the taste or...

In general, you should never drink the tap water in China, even in five-star hotels. Boiling water makes it safe to drink, but you might still prefer to buy bottled water for the taste or mineral make-up.

Follow these tips to avoid becoming ill:

  • Never drink unboiled tap water.
  • Water fountains at the major airports are clearly marked if they are safe to drink from.
  • Bottled water is generally safe – check that the seal is intact at purchase.
  • Avoid ice.
  • Avoid fresh juices – they may have been watered down.
  • Boiling water is the most efficient method of purifying water.
  • At very high altitudes, boil water for an extra minute as water bubbles at a lower temperature.
  • The best chemical purifier is iodine. It should not be used by pregnant women or those with thyroid problems.
  • Water filters should also filter out viruses. Ensure your filter has a chemical barrier such as iodine and a pore size of less than 4 microns.

This is a national picture, and it varies. Some cities treat their water to a standard the country as a whole does not reach. Where the water is not safe, boiling, filtering or sealed bottles are the usual options, and ice and raw salad washed in tap water carry the same risk as the water itself.

What bottled water costs you here

Drinking tap water instead of bottled would save one adult about 453$ a year in China, and keep several hundred plastic bottles out of circulation.

Work out your own saving

Places in China

Water quality is local. These places have their own readings.

Elsewhere in Asia