The Water Poverty Index (WPI) was used to assess water scarcity in China's main river basins. The study ranked the basins based on water scarcity, with the Liaohe River Basin being the most affected. The WPI pentagrams showed the reasons for water scarcity in each basin. The results help understand the water situation and how it relates to economic development and environmental protection. The WPI is a simple tool for assessing water resources and guiding water management decisions.