no , boiling can only kill of bacteria or other living things (not all) but for toxic metals it has no effect, mercury and other neuro toxins it will make you as brain dead as some of the locals only drink bottled water from trusted sources

Well eat outside that's what you're getting, Starbucks, anywhere... Sure it's "filtered" but in the end it's still water from the cities water system... DO you really think the filters in any restaurant get rid of "neurotoxins and other hideous poisons"? How often do you think they "really" maintain their filtering system? They have special "lead" and "mercury" filters too? I think not... Don't think to much. Besides... Do you want to live forever? Got to die of something sometime....

I believe the key to good health and a long life is drinking good quality water. I don't want to live on this horrible planet forever, but I wouldn't mind being healthy while I'm still here. And if metals lead to brain damage as crimochina suggested, then I really would like to die from something else. I don't drink the boiled water or tea they give you at restaurants anymore...only bottled water (which I'm sure isn't metal free either but at least it gives me peace of mind - sort of).

I read about worm eggs ( among other things)being found in a famous Chinese bottled water.

Taking that into account you really should not worry about it too much. If Chinese don't die from drinking boiled water you wont either. You may fall sick if you have just arrived but that is until your stomach becomes as strong as the Chinese stomach.

never drink the tea in restaurants especially when it is clear they do not washout the old tea residue. many chinese believe you should no washout the old tea resdue (also some western tea drinkers believe the same) but this is a great example of why you should not do something simply because it was done in the past. because of recent science we now know that the old tea residue breaks down into toxic metals. we all talk about how brain dead the locals are , why do you think that is , same in the usa areas where there is lead , mercury and other neuro toxins people are dumber. it not about race it is environmental poisoning.
you are not going to completely avoid toxins you can take steps to limit your intake of them and live a healthier life than if you didnt

Simple thing for you to try. Boil the kettle a couple of times (same water), leave to cool. Then pour the cooled water into an empty "purified water" bottle. Leave to stand for an hour and make sure you have an unopened bottle of water as well. Look at differences between the two....

To be honest though, if you were so bothered about things like just water quality.... then would you really have come to China in the first place? There are so many other things here that can kill you much faster than the lousy water filtration system.

no, its not safe,  so my suggestion for you is eat organic food drink imported bottled water, be aware of chinese bottled water ,some of them are tap water, if you are not willing to spend that money  then get used to it, all i know is you won't die for now, peace!

Well on the bright side, at least the water isn't fluoridated like in the USA. When I get to china, I'm going to look for a water distiller or a reverse osmosis system. They are probably going to be hard to find for someone new to China though.