Public Toilets in China
Public toilets in China used to be a big concern for most foreign tourists. However, with the improvement of public toilets in China, finding a clean one is now no longer a problem.
Generally, public toilets in China are usually squat style, which is not common in Western countries. It may be difficult for foreign travelers to use this type of toilet, but in reality, it is not so terrible if you know the correct way to use it.
Where Can You Find a Public Toilet?
In Chinese cities, you can find public toilets anywhere. You just need to pay attention to the signs that say “WC” or 公共厕所 or 卫生间.
It is easy to distinguish men's and women's bathrooms by the drawings of the symbols. However, in remote or less developed places, the signs may not be as clear. You will need to learn to differentiate the two Chinese characters: 男 (men's bathroom) and 女 (women's bathroom).
Are Public Toilets in China Clean?
In large cities such as Beijing, Shanghai, Xi'an, Guangzhou and other travel destinations such as Chengdu, Hangzhou and Suzhou, public toilets are usually quite clean as they are cleaned daily.
However, compared to these cities, in some smaller, more remote and less developed areas, the conditions might be relatively worse. Therefore, we recommend that before heading to attractions, use the bathroom in your hotel or visit a shopping center to resolve any needs.
In some remote areas of China, you may find public toilets with poorer conditions and less privacy.
Where Can You Find Sitting Toilets in China?
If you need to use a sitting toilet, you can find it in large developed cities and luxurious places, such as international airports, high-speed train stations, exclusive clubs, karaoke rooms, high-end restaurants, luxury hotels, where there is a greater influx of tourists, the use of sitting toilets is more common.
However, in small towns and remote areas, public toilets mainly have squat toilets. However, some sitting toilets are also installed to facilitate access for foreign tourists, elderly people and people with disabilities.
Public toilets on trains in China
In China's ordinary trains, the conditions of public toilets are not good, almost all of them have squat toilets. However, on high-speed or bullet trains, public bathrooms are cleaner and equipped with Western toilets, for the convenience of the elderly, disabled and foreign tourists. Therefore, there is no need to worry about traveling to China.
Other Tips to Use Public Toilets
- Bring your own toilet paper. Although some public places offer free toilet paper, not all do. Sometimes there are toilet paper vending machines in some bathrooms, you can usually pay by scanning a QR code with WeChat.
- Do not throw used toilet paper down the toilet. In public toilets in China, there are often signs indicating that used toilet paper should not be thrown down the toilet, but rather into the trash can provided in the bathroom.
- Carry a disposable toilet pad. If you are very concerned about the cleanliness of the western toilet, a disposable toilet seat protector is a perfect choice.
