Public Toilets in China (中国公共厕所)

A typical cubicle in Changi Airport

Like eating, going to the public toilet (for the obvious) has always and will always be part of the basic necessities for a human. "Whatever goes in must come out", as the truthful saying goes.

For many, it is more than just doing "business". It acts as a conversational platform with fellow users, a makeup zone or even, a much-needed smoking area.

Most of my NUS colleagues will know i love the toilet due to, in no small part, my super digestive and hyper sensitive stomach. Either reason, going to toilet few times a day is part and parcel of my daily life.

Therefore, when i told my friends i am going for my FIRST China trip in 2008, the first warning (by a female friend) was the appalling condition of the toilets there. 

It was explained that at times, the toilet will be built over a water area (most likely a stream or river) with holes on the floor for easy yet natural disposal. And the best thing? Either there will be no cubicle or no door for existing cubicles!

Taken from www.shockdc.com

*SHOCKED* was my expression then.

But i am a versatile person! I am not very particular when it comes to small business; an open area with no one around suffices as a release point. And with big business, i believe i can bear with the outgoing sensation until i reach my hotel (which i had been assured to be at least 3 stars).

A toilet in Papua New Guinea

(picture taken from www.flickr.com/photos/robertbyrne/563544741/)

Now that i am back from my second China trip, i think it's the right time for me to share the local public toilets experience.

One very nice public toilet in Stone Forest (石林), Yunnan

One

Although public toilets in China have cubicles (with the exception of one), only a small percentage has no doors (you are likely to find toilets with doors in tourist areas and bigger cities).

Two

Even if doors are provided, locals will not use them.

There was once in Yunnan, at a restaurant toilet where i encountered my first culture shock! I opened the door and right ahead was a man squatting and smoking - with his cubicle door wide-open! I almost slipped, thinking it was a one-man toilet! He looked at me and continued his business.

=_=!!!

Three

Even when cubicles and doors are provided, they are likely to be low-rise; meaning, once you stand up, you are able to tell how "bushy", lengthy (reserved for man only!) your next door neighbour is and whether he or she has a tattoo on his/her butt!

Four

Correct me if i am wrong, but i found the stench from the women's toilets to be super overpowering compared to the men. Ladies in our tour group will bring along an arsenal of items each time they go in.

Five

Most public toilets do not provide the "sitting" type and for lazy people like me who do not use the common "squatting" type, it's a blessing because i will DEFINITELY bear any outgoing sensation till i reached the hotel!

Six

The disposal system is at times, just a narrow, slight sloping drain connecting all the cubicles. Which means; you have to extremely careful for fluid-concentrated output (diarrhea for etc)!!

Seven

The chance of being asked to pay for the use of public toilets stands at around 60-70% (according to my experience), regardless of the conditions. It will cost RMB 1 yuan, more than the Singapore 20 cents we usually pay.

Commonly seen in China. This picture was taken in my recent trip to Hunan.

By the way, for point two, some users (tourists mainly) will use an umbrella to protect their modesty. And we did ask our local tour guide why cubicle doors are not utilised even when they are provided. 

His answer as follows:

Most locals believe that it is unhealthy to constraint oneself with 4 walls while "doing BIG business". In the lines of aromatherapy, what you smell can affect your health and mood. Hence, door remains unclosed at the expense of showing everything.

:)