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A traditionally styled public toilet in a historical and cultural district of Changzhou, East China’s Jiangsu Province Photo: VCG

This year marks the 10th anniversary since China launched the "toilet revolution" to increase both the number and sanitation levels of toilets at tourist sites. The campaign expanded to also focus on improving public toilets in cities and building better private toilets in rural areas, the Xinhua News Agency reported. Ten years have passed, and the toilets in scenic areas and rural villages have undergone a quiet transformation. Some tourists and rural residents have shared their experiences with the Global Times, offering firsthand accounts of the changes brought about by this "toilet revolution." 

Toilets with a view

At Changbai Mountain, Northeast China's Jilin Province, there is a multi-level viewing public toilet. Despite its location in a high-traffic scenic area, this toilet maintains both aesthetic appeal and practicality, the official WeChat account said of the attraction.

Externally, it features a predominantly white design with expansive floor-to-ceiling windows, creating a bright and clean appearance. Outside the entrance, an elevated rest area has been built, surrounded by dense woods. The toilet also offers spaces at varying heights, adding a touch of whimsy to the experience.

Both the men's and women's toilets are well-equipped, including standard items like tissue dispensers, hand dryers and trash bins, as well as ashtrays and a purified water dispenser.

"Despite the freezing snow outside, it's warm inside," one tourist surnamed Chen who comes from East China's Fujian Province told the Global Times on Wednesday. What surprised and impressed Chen most was that the scenic area toilet featured a water-free flushing system. "This design is very user-friendly. I used to assume public toilets in scenic spots had relatively poor sanitation, but here, the urinals use foam instead of water. It eliminates splashing and even leaves a pleasant fragrance," Chen noted.

The site also features heating, dryers and defrosters. "Honestly, I went in just to dry my frozen hair and clothes!" the tourist joked. Another girl surnamed Gao also pointed out that there are more than enough toilets too, which impressed her. "In many places I've been, there's always a line for the women's toilets, but not here," she said.

In Hohhot, the capital of North China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, the "Qingcheng Rest Spot" has redefined the local public toilets concept entirely. A traveler surnamed Li from Beijing was impressed, "This place offers almost everything - disabled and third-gender toilets, a baby care room, reading area, convenience store, EV chargers and even free phone charging. It's the most complete public toilet I've ever seen."

Such thoughtfully designed rest spots are now ubiquitous across Hohhot's urban areas, achieving the city's goal of having a public toilet within every 500 meters and meeting the needs of residents and tourists for toilet access within a 10-minute walk, said Xinhua News Agency.

This also marks a dramatic shift. For decades, Hohhot suffered from a severe shortage of public toilets. In 2017, the municipal government invested substantial resources to comprehensively upgrade sanitation infrastructure, according to the Xinhua report.

"Qingcheng rest spots are not just functional facilities - they prioritize aesthetics and comfort in both exterior design and interior layout, with increasingly sophisticated amenities," said Wang Xin, deputy director of Hohhot's Urban Management Bureau. "Universal accessibility features have been fully implemented, including safety handrails, emergency call buttons and nursing rooms. These details reflect our commitment to social inclusivity, particularly for vulnerable groups like the elderly and children," Wang told Xinhua.

From functional to delightful

According to Xinhua, during the 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-25) period, as China's "toilet revolution" advances into deeper reforms, more rural households are bidding farewell to the "awkward toilets," featured by the embarrassment of foul odors and swarming insects in summer, or icy, slippery paths in winter, and embracing the convenience and dignity brought by innovative public livelihood projects.

The Chen Yu family from Huangpi district of Wuhan, Central China's Hubei Province, is a prime example.

 "We used to have a pit latrine that reeked so badly you could barely stand near it," Chen recalled how life used to be. "My grandfather, who has mobility issues, often slipped on the muddy stones around the old toilet when it was raining. Ash from the walls and insects would stick to our clothes," said Chen.

But everything became different after the authorities initiated the toilet revolution. With government support, the process was smooth. "Everyone welcomed the renovation," she said, adding that "The village committee hired local residents to do the project, some discussed designs together, others delivered materials without payments."

The toilet's new facility boasts tiled floors and walls, along with a water heater, shower, and a sink. "Now, for my grandfather, it is just a short walk from the house to the new toilet. There are special chairs for bathing and toileting. It's safe, clean, and accessible. When I go back to visit my grandfather and stayed at the house, using the bathroom and shower feels convenient, hygienic, and delightful," Chen said.

Chen added that the village government installed a septic tank for her household. The fermented waste now serves as high-quality organic fertilizer for their vegetable garden. "It's quite effective for crops," she noted.

"Toilets represent the most urgent frontier of civilization. They must be valued and maintained with the same care as living rooms and dining areas," Xinhua News Agency cited the chief official of Huangpi district as saying. In recent years, Huangpi district has vigorously advanced a district-wide "toilet revolution," achieving a sanitation coverage rate surpassing 90 percent. This initiative has significantly improved urban and rural living environments and notably elevated residents' quality of life, said the report.

In scenic areas and rural villages alike, there have been many firsthand accounts from those on the ground revealing that the decade-long "toilet revolution" has sparked a profound transformation - challenging outdated norms, reshaping lifestyles and redefining environmental stewardship. It has not only fostered hygienic habits among the public but also elevated living and working conditions, propelling societal progress.

A toilet, though small, binds together the fabric of public welfare and civilizational advancement.