Public offered more toilets in Beijing
By Wang Ye (China Daily)
Updated: 2004-07-21 02:08

More than 3,000 Beijing business and entertainment spots will open their toilets for public use.

The Beijing Municipal Administration Commission has urged hotels, restaurants, shopping malls, petroleum stations and many other establishments to allow the public to begin using their toilets by Monday.

According to the Beijing Star Daily, the city also has promised that as of 2008, pedestrians will be able to locate a public lavatory within eight minutes in the downtown area.

Before, Beijing -- with a 13.8 million population by last's year count -- had only an estimated 7,700 public toilets.

The relatively few facilities simply could not meet the needs of the public.

A taxi driver surnamed Yang told China Daily that he is afraid of drinking too much water when he works, because he often cannot find a restroom.

"Each time I'm thirsty, I only dare to take a sip of water," said the 32-year-old man who usually works more than 12 hours in a typical day.

Wang also said that some drivers fail to contain themselves and use the roadside as their restroom out of necessity.

According to the commission's blueprint, the city will close about 3,000 toilets along lanes and single-storey house areas in the next four years.

The move to increase the number of facilities is seen as eliminating pressure from the host city of the 2008 Olympic Games and addressing the shortage of facilities.

A report from Xinhua News Agency hailed the move, noting that city tourists will be the biggest beneficiaries.

In the past seven-day May Day Holiday alone, the capital saw more than 3.6 million tourists from home and abroad.

Second, by opening their own restrooms to the public, entertainment attractions can become more attractive.

Far-sighted business people will not refuse toilet users, said Xinhua.

Most consumers are selective, and if they are offered conveniences in the establishments, they might stay and spend money.

Last, Xinhua said the move will help ease the government's pressure.

The commission only encouraged the entertainment places to open their toilets and no tough measures will be imposed on those which refuse to open theirs.

Meanwhile, the city will upgrade or build another 400 public restrooms to meet citizens' demands.

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