Loos change

A newly built "four-star" toilet in a park in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province.

Both sets of toilets have clean public spaces, free hand-washing liquid (not just empty containers) and toilet paper, and don't stink significantly at most times.

Foreign visitors would rather not heed nature's call than use toilets at most tourist sites. But when they can no longer do so, they hold their breath and brave the unpleasant odor and mess.

The availability of clean toilets is a decisive factor in foreign travelers' choice of China as a tourist destination, according to Liu Zhiming, chief analyst for the National Public Opinion Poll Lab.

"Many big scenic spots in China have only a few toilets, and some small ones don't have any," says Liu.

The most famous scenic spots usually have sufficient toilet facilities, while those off the beaten track are poorly equipped in most cases, according to him.

Poor toilet conditions have increasingly irked many foreigners who visit China to savor its centuries-old historical sites and culture. Checking out toilet conditions has become a routine for many prior to planning visits.

"It is a must to find out the sanitary conditions before I go there (a scenic spot)," says Jimmy Page, 26. The Australian has been in Beijing for just one week.