No, the tap water in China is not safe to drink. Unlike most western countries where there is easy access to safe tap water, in most places in China the tap water, although it looks clear, is not safe for drinking unless it has been boiled. read more
in practice, you never need to resort to drink tap water in shanghai, as drinking water is widely available, and is extremely cheap compared with their european counterparts. in short, never drink tap water in shanghai: it's not that harmful, but you don't want to try it for saving say, one rmb. read more
Your Shanghai Home Tap Water Quality. Fortunately, Shanghai water is first sent to treatment plants, some managed by Veolia, a French water treatment company, before being piped to our homes. Expats, however, still need to be wary of Shanghai tap water. read more