Dingy margarine color stains are the only gifts from tourists to a water tower on the Peking University campus. The stains take the shape of sun-dried rivers of urine that used to flow by the foot of the tower, reported the Star Daily Friday.

Stains take the shape of sun-dried rivers of urine that used to flow by the foot of a water tower on Peking University campus. [Star Daily]

Bo Ya Tower, an 80-year old water tower is a symbol of the prestigious university, and is a major tourist attraction, but now it can hardly be called a scenic spot as the pervasive smell of urine makes it more like a toilet.

"We desperately searched for somewhere to go and were finally saved by a washroom in a teaching building," a tourist surnamed Wu said, recalling an awkward experience finding a WC for her child. "The tower would be the last choice if we failed to find any toilets on campus," Wu said.

According to the report, tourists cannot find toilets, most of which are attached to lecture halls or libraries with no signs indicating where they are.

The 37-meter high water tower can supply 16,000 gallons of water per hour, and its symbolic meaning is far beyond its function. [File]

The 37-meter high water tower can supply 16,000 gallons of water per hour, and its symbolic meaning is far beyond its function. "When Bo Ya falls to pieces, Peking University will go with it", a student said.

Peking University slapped a ban on all tour groups last year, allegedly to maintain order and to spare its students from distractions and diversions. However individual visitors are still allowed.

But the campus of the top university in the nation is still subject to spitting, people walking across the grass, inscribing graffiti on the walls and other activities that cause damage.