I try to avoid tap water myself, but for one reason or another its difficult to
avoid. I think for us well travelled people, we can pretty much stomach
anything, but for people who have not travelled to a foreign place in a long
time, the tap water might not be the best idea.

I've survived well on tap waters from all over the planet, but i'm more
concerned about the pollutants that it may have and I avoid them when
possible.

Come on, a little benzene tainted water from the Songhua River never killed anyone, right..................... ;)

it hasn't killed me :) but you watch out... ;)

Regarding the water, I never drink the tap water in Asia. But I have always brushed my teeth with it, and never had a problem. I'm not a doctor, but I always heard that the saliva in your mouth does a good job of killing bacteria, so brushing teeth is usually not a problem with reasonably clean water. Just don't swallow it.

Bottled water is available everywhere and is very cheap. Usually about US$0.15-0.25 per bottle.

Beijing Tap Water A-OK
 

Interestingly, the beijing tap water is safe to drink when it comes from its ultra-modern water treatment plant (this is the opinion of both chinese and foreign water quality specialists). But, pipes - both city and within a building - taint the water supply (according to the chinese tap water musuem near Dongzhimen-interpret as you wish). But, Beijing is working to replace all pipes in time for 2008 so you can drink the water from any location within the 3rd ring road or at any olympic venue (according to beijing exhibition center - probably propoganda).

The Gloria Is nice and reasonable price hotel

How do you get reasonable prices at the gloria? Their web site is quoting 1500 CNY a night or double what I can get many other hotels for.

I would just call them up and low ball them. I'm sure they know that 1500 is way too much for that place. I would pick the Comfort Inn or Super 8 ahead of the Gloria unless you need to be downtown.

I got the Gloria Plaza hotel for ~400 CNY if I'm not mistaken last year. Although the small company I worked for booked it for me, maybe they get a better rate. Try to get somebody from China to book it for you, I'm sure there's a "local" rate and then a "screw the foreigners" rate. There's no way they should be charging 1500 CNY for that place, but I agree it's a decent place with seemingly a lot of tour groups and/or European tourists (at least when I was there). And the location is quite good too, pretty much right between the Grand Hyatt and the St. Regis right off the intersection of two main roads. ^

The Gloria
 

The web page says 880 rmb
http://www.gloriahotels.com/gloria_e...jing_rates.asp

It's a nice place service is very good.
I stayed at their Suzhou location about 50 nights. Their service is very good the staff speak pretty good English.
Sometimes going thru a chinese web-site is cheaper.I always book my intra chinese travel thru a local travel agency same flights only cheaper !

Also in Suzhou they have a members card it about 2300 rmb, It's good for 3 nights in the plaza floor free beer lounge, some free laundry and upgrades.Ask for it in Bejing.
I will be back in Suzhou next week at the Gloria and then I fly to Xian and try out their hotel there.
Blue Tiger