Not Safe
China
·
Last reviewed:
Is Tap Water Safe to Drink in Beijing?
No, Beijing tap water is not safe to drink directly. The water is heavily chlorinated and very hard, sourced from the South-to-North Water Diversion Project and local groundwater. Boiling before drinking is universal practice among residents.
Hardness
Very Hard (300+ mg/L calcium carbonate
Country
China
Rating
Not Safe
Soft
Moderate
Hard
Very Hard
Water Source
South-to-North Water Diversion Project (Danjiangkou Reservoir) and local groundwater sources, heavily treated with chlorination
Contaminants & Concerns
High chlorine levels, excessive hardness minerals, sediment from aging pipe networks, potential heavy metals from old building plumbing
Tips
- •Boil all tap water before drinking—every home and hotel in Beijing has an electric kettle for this purpose
- •Buy bottled water from convenience stores like 7-Eleven or FamilyMart, which are found on nearly every block
- •If staying long-term, consider installing a reverse osmosis filter to handle the very hard water
Frequently Asked Questions
Sources & References
The safety rating and guidance on this page draw on the following sources. See our full methodology.
- •WHO Guidelines for Drinking-water Quality
- •CDC Travelers' Health destination pages
- •The municipal water utility's published quality data