Beijing hot springs fail bacteria test

Two-thirds Beijing's booming hot spring resorts, popular among Chinese, have failed bacteria tests and have been ordered to improve hygiene standards, state media reported Wednesday.

Health inspectors tested the water at 22 resorts and found that only one-third were free from bacteria, the official Xinhua News Agency said.

The tests showed "no bacteria that are hazardous to human health," but the city health bureau is still advising visitors to take showers before and after bathing, Xinhua cited Cai Changjing, head of the publicity office under the Beijing Health Supervision Institution, as saying.

"We have received no reports of people falling ill because of bathing in the hot springs," Cai said.

The resorts are mostly located in Beijing's suburbs and are popular sites for meetings and family outings during holidays.