Abstract

Significance Freshwater resources are unevenly distributed in China. This situation drives a significant amount of water flow both physically and virtually across China. Here, we report on our quantification of China’s physical and virtual water flows and associated water stress at the provincial level. In 2007, interprovincial physical water flows amounted to only a small part of China’s total water supply, but virtual water flows amounted to over one-third of supply. We found that both physical and virtual water flows exacerbated water stress for the main water-exporting provinces. The results highlight the need for more emphasis to be placed on water demand management rather than the current focus on supply-oriented management.