(China Daily)
Updated: 2007-11-08 10:39

The toilets of a restaurant in Beijing are causing controversy after being named "Liberated Area," a term referring to regions controlled by the Communist Party of China before the founding of the People's Republic of China in 1949.

A staff member of the restaurant covers the sign on the wall which reads "Liberated Area" with a piece of newspaper. [newsphoto]

Waitstaff dress up as soldiers of the Eighth Route Army and serve people in sections given names such as "White Area," or the "Number 1" and "Number 2" war zones.

The manager, surnamed Li, said the names had nothing to do with politics.

"We named the toilets because we wanted them to match the nostalgic theme of the restaurant and reflect the feeling of relief that diners had when answering the call of nature."

(Beijing Morning Post)