‘Toilet chiefs’ in, luxury loos out as China’s public bathroom revolution rolls on
Head of tourism calls on local authorities to appoint officials to keep an eye on hygiene at the country’s growing number of restrooms
China’s tourism supremo has called for “toilet chiefs” to keep tabs on hygiene at public bathrooms but warned against construction of more “five-star” facilities as the country rolls on with its national “toilet revolution”.
Li Jinzao, head of the China National Tourism Administration, said lower-level authorities should follow the lead of Xian, in Shaanxi province, and appoint official monitors to keep an eye on standards in public toilets.
In Xian, the hygiene of the facilities overseen by each toilet chief is a factor in their political performance and promotion opportunities. A similar system has been adopted for the country’s waterways.
China is in the midst of a toilet revolution launched in 2015 by Chinese President Xi Jinping to improve sanitation at tourist sites.
By the end of last year, authorities had built more than 70,000 new toilets, overshooting the three-year target of 57,000 set at the start of the campaign.
But some of the new facilities have become so well appointed that they have become destinations in their own right.