The main producing areas of Chinese baijiu are mostly distributed in artesian basins, and the groundwater recharge for brewing water exhibits distinct geological characteristics. The contents of minerals and rare earth elements in water body are the primary factors contributing to the regional differences in liquor taste. To investigate the key components and source of liquor-brewing water, multiple geochemical approaches were adopted to conduct hydrochemical analysis, water volume calculation, and hydrogen-oxygen isotopic analysis on surface water and groundwater in the Chishui River Basin. The results show that characteristic mineral components such as strontium, sulfur, and calcium in brewing water originate from water-rock reactions between groundwater and surrounding rock during groundwater migration. More than half of water volume in the Chishui River is supplied by exogenous water, which serves as the main recharge source during dry season; spring recharge area is derived from river seepage water in the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau. The midstream strata of Chishui River host carbonate rock formations containing celestite, barite, and gypsum, which provide sources of strontium, sulfur, calcium, and other substances to water body. It is inferred that seepage water from the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau dissolves minerals such as strontium, calcium, and sulfur from carbonate rocks during transport and converges into Chishui River. The river water is rich in unique minerals and rare earth elements required for brewing high-quality liquors such as Moutai, Xijiu, and Langjiu, endowing Chishui River with its distinctive status as the “river of fine liquors”.

Water sources in volcanic regions have long been a focal point in hydrogeology. Tianchi Lake of the Changbai Mountain in Northeast China, the world's highest volcanic lake, has historically faced water imbalance issues. This study offered a comprehensive analysis of the water sources of Tianchi Lake, examining water volume, hydrodynamics, hydrochemistry, and isotopic evidence. Flow simulations of the Changbai Mountain waterfall during the glacial period indicated that besides local precipitation stored within the mountain during the non-freezing period, other groundwater sources were involved. Additionally, the volume of spring water and the geological structures in the Tianchi Lake area suggested that even expanding the watershed boundary cannot fully account for water balance within the region. Comparative analysis of hydrogen and oxygen isotopes in groundwater and local precipitation within the Changbai Mountain region revealed that external water recharged Tianchi Lake via deep circulation, sustaining the stable flow of Tianchi Lake and its surrounding springs. This study provides valuable insights into the mechanisms and recharge processes of groundwater circulation in volcanic regions.