Harbin's announcement of a four-day shut-down of tap water supply, starting today, hasn't affected air and rail business between the capital city of Heilongjiang Province and Shanghai, but no local tourist groups will be visiting the city in Northeast China or its vicinity, the Shanghai Evening News reported, citing local travel industry sources.

Seat-occupancy rates for today's seven flights from Shanghai to Harbin remained normal at 50 percent and railway travelers numbered about 500 as usual.  No railway ticket has been refunded so far, rail authorities revealed.

No local tour groups are arranged to visit Harbin in the four-day period, according to local agencies.

"The most popular tourist activity in the Northeast China region is skiing, and therefore the hot peak season usually starts around mid-November," said Li Weimin, spokesperson with Shanghai Spring International Travel Service.  Harbin is currently in the off-season for tourism business.

Vice-general manager Zhang Jianquan with Shanghai Travel Service agreed, saying his company has yet to organize tours to Harbin this winter. 

But he worried this year's Harbin-bound business will be dampened by the tap-water shutdown.

Authorities in Harbin announced yesterday the cutting-off of local tap water supply starting today over fears that a chemical plant explosion on November 13 contaminated the city's main water sources.

The city is shifting to water reserves and importing water from outside sources.

The water emergency has sparked panic-buying of water and soft drinks, clearing-out local supermarkets and food stores.

(Shanghai Daily November 23, 2005)