Parks, tourist spots to have new toilets

Tourism authorities will put up 100 new public toilets, mostly at tourist spots, suburban parks and along the 45-kilometer stretch by the Huangpu River.

Xu Weiwan, director of the Shanghai Tourism Administration, said the parks and the riverfront were growing in popularity and attracting tourists, but there were not enough toilets.

She also said that authorities will also request businesses, hotels and institutions to allow outsiders to use their toilets.

There are also plans to put up more unisex public toilets at areas with busy traffic for the convenience of tourists.

The unisex toilets will include separate spaces designed for people who need help while using them like parents with children, or adults accompanying seniors or disabled people.

A total of 109 unisex public toilets are currently in place at tourist attractions and parks. The city’s three 5A (China’s top grade) national tourist attractions — Oriental Pearl TV Tower, Shanghai Wildlife Park and Shanghai Science and Technology Museum — all have unisex toilets.

The city already has nearly 1,000 toilets at major tourist areas. Modern applications will be used to eliminate stink at these toilets, said Lin Sumin, who is the director of the public service department of the administration.

Lin said many tourist toilets in Shanghai smell or have steps that are not convenient for disabled people.

“We will try to provide free toilet paper at tourist toilets, and even develop an app for toilets,” Lin said.

A nationwide “toilet revolution” was launched in 2015 to clean up dirty and foul-smelling public toilets in an effort to improve the quality of life for people and boost the tourist industry.