Making public toilets hygienic, user-friendly VICTOR

Chinese tourism authorities are promoting a "toilet revolution", which was long overdue. In fact, not only toilets at scenic spots, but also public toilets in other places need a "revolution".

Foreigners usually complain about the stench and foulness of toilets in busy public places such as train and bus stations. They also grumble about the lack of privacy in some public toilets, particularly in small towns in China's inland and rural areas. Most of the toilets in these places have no partition, not to speak of doors, denying any privacy to users. Fully-enclosed toilets are a rarity in these areas.

Older Chinese people, those from rural areas in particular, are used to the lack of privacy in public toilets - it's not rare to see men smoking or even chatting with one another while going about their business in open squat toilets - but foreigners find the experience embarrassing.