Toilets, Drinking Water and Hygiene in China
A realistic day-to-day guide to drinking water, hotel kettles, squat and seated toilets, tissues, hand hygiene, food choices and the Chinese words that help you find a restroom.
The practical answer is straightforward: carry tissues, drink sealed bottled or properly boiled water, wash or sanitise your hands before eating, and treat a clean-looking public toilet as a convenience rather than a promise that every cubicle will be equally supplied.
That sounds less glamorous than choosing a hotel, but it makes a long travel day much easier.
Drinking water: do not make the tap your default
For visitors, tap water is not the sensible default for drinking in Mainland China, including major cities. Use sealed bottled water or water that has been boiled properly. Most hotels provide bottled water, a kettle, or both; ask reception if the arrangement is unclear. Convenience stores make bottled water easy to replace during the day.
Hot water from a hotel kettle is useful for tea, coffee, and instant food once it has boiled. A hot-water tap is different: do not assume it is drinking water just because it is warm. Be cautious with ice, fountain drinks, and juice made with water of uncertain origin if you have a sensitive stomach.
The goal is not to make food stressful. Choose busy places with food that is cooked thoroughly and served hot, and keep an eye on the basics: hands, water, and temperature.
What toilets are like
You will see both squat and seated toilets. Newer hotels, malls, airports, high-speed-rail stations, and many large attractions often have well-maintained facilities, but supplies and cleaning standards vary by building and by time of day. Older stations, roadside stops, rural areas, and a crowded scenic site near closing time may be less predictable.
A few habits help:
- Carry a small tissue pack; not every cubicle has paper.
- Carry hand sanitiser for places where the soap dispenser is empty.
- Keep a small bag for used tissues if there is no suitable bin.
- Use the bin where signs ask you not to flush paper; plumbing arrangements vary.
- Give yourself a few extra minutes before a long train, coach, or queue at a major sight.
High-speed trains and metro stations normally have toilets or nearby facilities, but “normally” is not a reason to wait until the last possible minute. At a station, look before boarding rather than assuming the train will be convenient for you.
How to find one
Save these phrases as a screenshot:
| English | Chinese | Pinyin |
|---|---|---|
| Where is the restroom? | 洗手间在哪里？ | Xǐshǒujiān zài nǎli? |
| Where is the toilet? | 厕所在哪里？ | Cèsuǒ zài nǎli? |
| Is there a toilet nearby? | 附近有洗手间吗？ | Fùjìn yǒu xǐshǒujiān ma? |
| Do I need a code? | 需要密码吗？ | Xūyào mìmǎ ma? |
On maps, look for 洗手间, 厕所, or the toilet icon. In a restaurant or mall, showing the Chinese text is usually faster than trying to pronounce it perfectly.
Food and hand hygiene
Wash hands before eating. If soap and water are not available, use alcohol-based hand sanitiser. Keep cuts covered, avoid food that has been sitting lukewarm for a long time, and be careful with raw or undercooked meat, seafood, eggs, and unpasteurised dairy products.
Street food is not automatically a bad choice; a busy stall with food cooked in front of you can be a better bet than something that has been sitting out. Use your judgement. If you are pregnant, immunocompromised, travelling with a very young child, or have a serious food-related health condition, be stricter and discuss a travel plan with a clinician before departure.
A small day kit
Put these in one pocket rather than spreading them across luggage:
- tissues;
- hand sanitiser;
- a refillable bottle for safe water only;
- rehydration salts or familiar stomach medication, if appropriate for you;
- a card with your allergies in Chinese; and
- a spare mask if you prefer one for crowded transport.
If vomiting, severe diarrhoea, fever, dehydration, or blood in stool occurs, seek medical advice rather than trying to travel through it. See Medical Care in China for Tourists for emergency and hospital basics.
Sources and further reading
- US CDC, China traveller health guidance: https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/destinations/traveler/none//china
- US CDC Yellow Book, China: https://www.cdc.gov/yellow-book/hcp/asia/china.html
- US CDC Yellow Book, food and water precautions: https://www.cdc.gov/yellow-book/hcp/preparing-international-travelers/food-and-water-precautions-for-travelers.html
- UK Government, China health guidance: https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/china/health
Last reviewed: 24 July 2026.