Pit toilets and wooden matongs were very common in China as recently as the early s. Even today, pit toilets in many rural areas in the north have yet to be replaced by flush toilets, largely due to remaining problems with water scarcity. Local residents had limited access to these toilets and so they did not get accustomed to the flush toilet system.
Night soil collectors would collect human waste from public toilets and sell it to farmers in the countryside, who then would spread it on their crops. And finally, modern flush toilets rely on a city having an extensive sewage system, which was a rarity in China until about 50 years ago. The midth century saw some major improvements in China regarding toilets.
In , the Central government announced a plan to build public restrooms across areas under its control and began to penalize those who urinated or defecated in public spaces. Even in the beginning, public sanitation was connected to creating a modern nation-state, alongside other improvements in health care, physical education, and even resisting foreign imperialism. In , the Communist Party began the Patriotic Health Campaign which is today referred to as the National Hygienic Cities Campaign, which made further improvements to toilets across China.
A large water tank hung at one end of the trench, and one flush would wash away the contents of all users. These trench-style bathrooms are still used in some places today, especially in old bus and train stations, and other areas where high numbers of people tend to congregate. Fortunately, that was about to change. Those traveling to China in or later are much luckier than those traveling prior to If toilet paper is provided, it is often not in the individual stall but in the area in front of the stalls.
You can find many public restrooms in Beijing, especially in the older Hutong neighborhoods. The reason behind that is that the old Hutong homes lack the plumbing for private toilets. For those Hutong residents the public toilet is their toilet. You will occasionally see someone in their pajamas…. The newer Chinese public restrooms have regular stalls with lockable doors but the really old ones may just have low divider walls and provide no privacy.
The sense of privacy is very different than in the West. Western restaurants usually have Western style facilities. Higher end Chinese restaurants sometimes have one stall with a Western toilet and others with squat toilets.
Look out for the signs on the stall doors. Even if the toilet looks Western, the plumbing often is not. A good rule is, if there is a trash basket right next to the toilet, use it for the toilet paper. Sometimes there is even a sign telling you not to throw paper into the toilet.
Instead you are pointed to the nearest public one. Housing geared towards Westerners and newer homes in general have Western style facilities. At least on first glance.
When my family visited China we did not have the luxury of staying in a hotel. We traveled by train, bikes and taxi.
I think I saw a much different china than you. I think the trip was a good experience and gave me a greater appreciation for my country here in the USA. I travel with urinelles when in china.
They are coated paper funnels that allow women to pee standing up you can also get plasTic versions. This has been how my daughter and i have dealt with squat toilets and port-a-potties in china. We always carry toilet paper also. Availability and Cleanliness of Chinese toilets; Using Chinese squat toilets; How to find a good Chinese toilet; Pro tips for using a toilet in China;. An unusually clean public squat toilet in China. Traveling or Moving to China Soon? Comments This article is not correct.
I returned from China last week and all I had was a squat potty. Remember The handicap toilet is invariably a western commode. Use it.
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