Oh, by the way, I've heard the habit that Chinese like to drink hot water was fostered by historical and political reasons. In the time of The War to Resist US Aggression and Aid Korea the American army threw many insects, mice and biological weapons in the battlefront. So the Chinese soldiers had to foster the habit of drinking hot water

The habit of hot water is mainly attributed to Patriotic Health Campaign in 1952. After all, this is a cheap and effective way to prevent disease.