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A bathroom problem of "Olympic" proportions
When I first saw the venue designs for this summer's Olympic games in Beijing, I was quite impressed. The Chinese have pulled out all the stops to create several cutting-edge stadiums for the games, including the Beijing National Stadium designed by award-winning architects Herzog & de Meuron and the Beijing National Aquatics Center, which looks like a huge floating cube of water.However, as the BBC reports, China may have spent a little too much money on those architecture fees. Prompted by frequent visitor complaints at test events, the Chinese are scrambling to replace traditional squat toilets at the venues with western-style "loos" for an expected 500,000 visitors. According to the BBC, who quotes Yao Hui, Deputy Head of Venue Management, "Most of the Chinese people are used to the squat toilet, but nowadays more and more people demand sit-down toilets."
Gee, Yao, do you think? I have no problem adapting to a traditional squat toilet if I'm coming to visit China on my own, but perhaps when you have visitors coming from as many as 200 different nationalities you might want to standardize? I guess if you're headed to this summer's games in Beijing, make sure you bring your own toilet paper and maybe take a look at this for advice. Also take a look at this for more "traditional" background info on Beijing before your visit.
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The top 10 World's Dirtiest Cities:
You'll never guess what made the list!
Filed under: Festivals and Events, Asia, China, News, Travel Health
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
stnsmok Mar 22nd 2008 9:09PM
I used the squat toilet in the Phillipines. But only for number one. Luckily.
Jim Mar 23rd 2008 12:12AM
Squat toilets actually help decrease colon cancer . . .
Tim Mar 22nd 2008 9:25PM
Tibetans don't use or need western toilets. Chinese OUT OF TIBET! Boycott all things Chinese AND their toilets!!!!!
john wharton Mar 22nd 2008 9:42PM
Our experience in Malaysia where they are installing sit-down toilets, is that many of the people will stand on them to squat. (and that really leaves a mess)
Good luck visiting chins - my experience had been that they are not too "civil". Regards
John Wharton
Richard Mar 22nd 2008 9:51PM
Hey, maybe we should make some American Toilets and sell them to the chinese. I think with a slight modification, how about a bear trap thats trigered to snatch their goodies when they "squat"? That's one way to get even with those cheap bastards for poisioning us whit their JUNK!!!! BUY AMERICAN AND KEEP AMERICANS WORKING.
Quentin Mar 22nd 2008 11:29PM
no one's holding a gun to anyone's head to buy their crap(I agree, it's all CRAP).The inflationary '70s got all Americans thinking about the bottom line and nothing else, and until that changes, why blame China?
Jim Mar 23rd 2008 12:12AM
Junk is made overseas due to Americans pricing their selves out a job -- unions have strangled jobs out of existence.
Doreen Mar 23rd 2008 1:17AM
You have a great idea. See comment #31.
Louie Mar 22nd 2008 10:18PM
I would hate to be old with arthritis or handicapped in China with toilets like that than perhaps they kill the handicapped same way they do to pet dogs
Jack Mar 22nd 2008 10:19PM
Denny Maddox,
I'm not sure what country you refer to, but I have been to Japan, Korea, Hong Kong, and the Phillippines, and Not seen any of what you talk about since 1970. While toilets are not western in nature, bare breasted woman are not as prevalent as you seem to think. Or maybe it is wishful dreaming on your part.
Mel Mar 22nd 2008 10:31PM
The first time I flew to Japan, the kids and I encountered "squatty potty" and the 5 years we stayed in Japan anytime we went out on the ecomony we had to endure. When you visit a host country you get use to it - they aren't so bad
otrpu Mar 22nd 2008 10:32PM
Rape should be a death sentence everywhere. No means no. Period.
Jeanne Mar 22nd 2008 10:38PM
Found the same toilet on the roadside in France!! Refused to use, but did take a photo!!
elaine Mar 22nd 2008 10:39PM
You know, there are different preferences to how people want to use the toilet. When you are in a different country, you just may learn that they have a different way of doing things. Even if they are not to your liking. Sure, the "squat toilets" are not to my liking; but if that is what they use there, then that is what they use. It is good that the Chinese are making changes since there will be so many people coming to their country for the Olympics; it shows that they are concerned what people from other countries will think about their country. It is just history that not all countries like the way a different country does something. So, if you come home after the Olympics, you can enjoy your personal toilets. The way you prefer. ^_^
Teri Mar 22nd 2008 10:53PM
Yes! Yes! Yes! If our government politics are such that they don';t care about US citizens, Then we need to show them WE DO CARE and WE DONT WANT anything to do with China's POISON, whether its there human rights record, their imports or thier Olympic games. What on earth was the Olympic games committee thinking?
Susan Mar 22nd 2008 10:56PM
I hate the squat toilets. They had them in Italy. Akward to use.
clay Mar 22nd 2008 11:11PM
I was required to use one of these porcelean "inconveniences" on a trip to albania last year. I felt like I'd taken a step (or squat) back in time several centuries. PLEASE improve the "sit"uation before the games begin or you'll have one hell of a mess on your hands!!!
Jeanne Mar 22nd 2008 11:11PM
My husband worked in China during the SARS outbreak and saw many of these squat toilets. Because of their diet, their movements are very liquid. I guess t
his makes useing these easier...Also, paper is not flushed away, it is put in a basket. Sanitation is definitely an issue.
Sara Mar 22nd 2008 11:16PM
Hey, don't be mad at the Chinese - that's misdirected hostility. Is it their fault that our country allows so many imports instead of making things here on American ground? Just because they might take advantage of what our government has ENABLED them to do - is not their fault, but actually the fault of our OWN government's oversight in terms of protecting it's people's economy (by allowing so much manufacturing to come from outside of the country) and it's people's health and welfare (by not observing closely enough the content of imports and their lead containing parts).
Before you get mad at another country - make sure you check our own government, the way things are run in our country first. If more people were actually ACTIVE about making their voices heard - changes would be made. You don't get anywhere by pointing fingers at those who really have no responsibility for our welfare (ie China).
By the way - do you know where the money for this new 'giveback to the people' Bush is 'giving' out this tax season came from. Do some research...then maybe the fingers you point might at least have some sense behind them.
Millie Mar 22nd 2008 11:35PM
I guess I have lived a sheltered life. I can't believe people live like this today. I had heard that in France when anyone needed to go potty, they would just go anywhere on the street and didn't care who saw them.
I certainly would not want to even visit a place like that much less live for one day among those people. This even makes me sick to read of this taking place.
I am all in favor of Richard's suggestion. Ha ha