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Alice Yan

Three years into its “toilet revolution” and China has built or upgraded tens of thousands of facilities at tourists sites across the country.
But there are still thousands more to go in the next couple of years as authorities try to improve public sanitation and clean up the country’s international reputation.
Where did it all begin?
The revolution started in April 2015 after Chinese President Xi Jinping called for improvements to toilets across the country, especially in rural areas and at tourist sites.
The man building a better today for China’s children – one toilet at a time
Xi said upgrading the facilities was integral to improving conditions in China’s tourism industry.
“The toilet issue is not a small issue. It is an important part of civilised construction in both urban and rural areas,” Xi said.
The overhaul was backed by more than 1 billion yuan (US$145.8 million) in central government funding and over 20 billion yuan from local authorities.

Why target tourist sites?
Toilets are the barometer of civilisation, Chinese officials say, and a bad “toilet landscape” has soiled the country’s image.
Overseas visitors have long complained about poorly maintained or primitive open-pit toilets in China, particularly in rural areas.


Chinese travellers have also faulted public bathrooms in tourist areas for being dirty, smelly or inconveniently located.
According to official figures, roughly three-quarters of the country had acceptable toilets in 2014 – up from 7.5 per cent in 1993 but still a long way to go.


What has been done?
China built or refurbished about 68,000 toilets at tourist sites across the country since 2015. Another 64,000 are expected to be built by 2020, under a national culture and tourism plan released late last year.
Chinese public toilets go hi-tech with Wi-fi and facial recognition
In some cities popular with tourists, such as Beijing, Haikou and Taiyuan, plusher public toilets have been built, offering bank ATMs, snack machines, Wi-fi and recharging stations for mobile phones and electric cars.

Some toilets have also been expanded to include bigger unisex cubicles for the disabled, elderly and adults with young children.
But officials have been warned not to lavish too much money on new facilities.
Taxi drivers, toilets, pollution … Top six complaints about Beijing from foreign tourists
Earlier this year, state media lashed out authorities in one unnamed impoverished village for failing to serve the needs of ordinary people after it was revealed they had spent more than 200,000 yuan building a “luxury” public toilet.


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China society

China's toilet revolution: why you no longer have to fear its dirty squat toilets

China’s toilets have an international reputation for being unbearably dirty and smelly. But that is changing – especially at tourist sites around the nation. Photo: David Wong

This photo taken on May 14, 2018 shows the interior of a public toilet in Zhengzhou in China's central Henan province. The toilet has a self-clean system which auto-disinfects the toilet seat before each use and provides high-pressure washing of the entire room after every five users. China's president has ordered the country to march on in its "revolution" to clean up notoriously dirty and foul-smelling public bathrooms in a bid to improve quality of life and boost tourism. / AFP PHOTO / - / China OUT

This photo taken on December 7, 2017 shows an aerial view of newly-built toilets at a park in Anlong County in China's southwestern Guizhou province. China's president has ordered the country to march on in its "revolution" to clean up notoriously dirty and foul-smelling public bathrooms in a bid to improve quality of life and boost tourism. / AFP PHOTO / - / China OUT

The public "smart toilets" in Changsha, Hunan, and Chongqing. Toilet paper dispenser that gives you 80cm of paper upon scanning your face, free Wifi, and a sensor that sends a worker to check on you if you spend more than 10 minutes in the toilet. Source: rednet.cn

This photo taken on May 14, 2018 shows a public toilet in Zhengzhou in China's central Henan province. The toilet has a self-clean system which auto-disinfects the toilet seat before each use and provides high-pressure washing of the entire room after every five users. China's president has ordered the country to march on in its "revolution" to clean up notoriously dirty and foul-smelling public bathrooms in a bid to improve quality of life and boost tourism. / AFP PHOTO / - / China OUT

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China

People & Culture

Authorities have built and spruced up tens of thousands of public bathrooms at tourist sites across the country


Hygiene in China

Asia travel

Foreigners in China

Tourism