Luxurious public toilets fail to meet public need

A SCENIC SPOT IN YANCHENG, East China's Jiangsu province, has reportedly built four luxurious public toilets, each costing more than 2 million yuan ($310,680). A commentary on scol.com.cn says the money would have been better spent on more less luxurious toilets.

In fact, what the scenic spot really needs is not some costly high-end toilets, but a lot more ordinary ones that serve their purpose and cater to tourists' needs. As an essential part of urban construction and management and an indispensable facility in public places, public washrooms are always in short supply and poorly managed.

Many tourists and residents still have to queue for a long time to use smelly toilets; some even relieve themselves in the open if their need is urgent. This tarnishes a city's image.