Living in China

Can You Drink Tap Water in China? What to Drink Instead (2026)

By the 17Talk teaching team - certified Mandarin teachers, 8+ years of classroom experience, 3,500+ students in 40 countries
Last updated: 2026-10-23

Quick answer

Do not drink the tap water in China. The UK Foreign Office travel advice for China states it directly: tap water is generally not safe to drink, and you should only drink bottled water. In practice that is easy - bottled water costs around 1-3 RMB per 500 ml, every hotel room has a kettle, and every airport, station and office has a hot-water dispenser. Boiling tap water makes it safe for tea and instant noodles, and brushing your teeth with tap water is low risk for most visitors.

The short answer, from an official source

The UK's Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office travel advice for China says it in one line: "Tap water is generally not safe to drink. Only drink bottled water."

That is the line to plan around. It is not a scare story about poisoning - it is the standard advice you would get in most of Asia, and it costs almost nothing to follow.

Tap water in China at a glance

Four rows cover almost every question people ask. The advice itself comes from two official sources - the UK Foreign Office's China travel advice and the WHO drinking-water guidelines - both linked at the foot of this page.

The short version: the risk is in what you swallow, not in what touches your skin, and the local habit of boiling is the practical answer.

Water source	Safe to drink?	What to do
Tap water	No - the UK FCDO says it is generally not safe	Buy bottled water instead
Boiled tap water	Yes	Hotel kettles are standard; hot-water dispensers are in stations, airports and offices; fine for tea and instant noodles
Bottled water	Yes	1-3 RMB for 500 ml in any convenience store; the 4-5 litre bottles are the cheap way to fill a hotel room
Brushing your teeth with tap water	Low risk for most visitors	Fine for most people; use bottled water if you have a sensitive stomach or travel with children
Showering	Fine	The risk is what you swallow, not what touches your skin
If you do drink it	Usually an unpleasant 24-48 hours	Rehydration salts from a pharmacy; go to a hospital for fever, blood, or symptoms past three days

Why it is the pipes, not the treatment

China has national drinking-water quality standards and municipal treatment plants that meet them at the point of production. The weak link is everything after that: old city pipes, rooftop storage tanks on apartment buildings, and the plumbing inside a building nobody has flushed in years.

That is why the local habit is to boil. Kettles are standard hotel equipment, and hot-water dispensers are everywhere from train stations to office corridors - it is one of the most convenient things about travelling in China, not an obstacle.

What to drink instead

Bottled water is sold in every convenience store, usually 1-3 RMB for a 500ml bottle; the big 4-5 litre bottles are the cheap way to fill a hotel room. Hotel rooms almost always have a kettle plus two bottles of water, refilled daily.

Tea and instant noodles made with boiled water are fine. So is coffee from a machine in a hotel or cafe. What you want to avoid is water straight from the tap, or a glass of water in a place where you cannot tell where it came from.

Brushing teeth, showering and ice

Brushing your teeth with tap water is low risk for most visitors - you spit it out, and the exposure is tiny. If you have a sensitive stomach or are travelling with children, use bottled water for brushing; it costs nothing to be careful.

Showering is fine. The risk with tap water is what you swallow, not what touches your skin.

Ice is the one to think about. In city restaurants and chains, ice is made from filtered or boiled water; at a roadside stall, you are taking the same small chance the locals take. If your stomach is fragile, ask for drinks without ice.

When something does go wrong

The usual outcome of drinking untreated water is an unpleasant 24-48 hours rather than anything serious. Pharmacies sell rehydration salts and common anti-diarrhoeal medicine over the counter, and you do not need a prescription for either.

If you have a fever, blood in your stool, or symptoms lasting more than three days, go to a hospital rather than self-treating. Our medical guide covers where to go and what to bring.

For what to buy and where, buying medicine in China is the practical companion page.

Common questions

Can you drink tap water in China?

No. The UK Foreign Office travel advice for China says tap water is generally not safe to drink and that you should only drink bottled water.

Is it safe to brush your teeth with tap water in China?

For most visitors, yes - the exposure is tiny because you spit it out. If you have a sensitive stomach or are travelling with young children, use bottled water instead.

How much does bottled water cost in China?

Around 1-3 RMB for a small bottle in a convenience store. A 4-5 litre bottle is the cheapest way to keep a hotel room supplied.

Can I drink boiled tap water?

Yes. Boiling is what locals do, and hotel kettles are provided for exactly that. It is safe for tea, coffee and instant noodles.

Is the ice in drinks safe?

In city restaurants and chains, usually yes - the ice comes from filtered or boiled water. At roadside stalls the source is less predictable, so skip the ice if your stomach is fragile.

Sources

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