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It's explained in the linked BBC[1] article: "The machines dispense strips of toilet paper measuring 60 to 70cm (24 to 27.5 inches) to each person. They will no

It's explained in the linked BBC[1] article: "The machines dispense strips of toilet paper measuring 60 to 70cm (24 to 27.5 inches) to each person. They will not dispense more paper to the same person until after nine minutes have passed. Visitors to the Temple of Heaven park's toilets were taking excessive amounts of toilet paper, some of whom were seen stuffing their bags." The photo in the article shows that the automated paper dispensers are located outside the stalls. Without even talking about an Orwellian surveillance society, this seems like an over-engineered, inconvenient, and expensive solution to a minor problem. [1] http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-china-39324431 http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-china-39324431

seanmcdirmid 9y ago
Before you had to bring your own toilet paper (when I visited the Temple of Heaven for the first time in 1999), or you could buy some from the attendant for a few mao (cents). Now that attendants are too expensive, they have to come up with something else, while tourists from the lesser tier cities still see bathroom provided toilet paper as a luxury.
- blackbagboys 9y ago
  It seems like this problem could more easily be solved with a vending machine than a complicated facial recognition apparatus.
  - seanmcdirmid 9y ago
    Vending machines still means you’d have to pay for it. Beijing tried to market itself as international-level tourism, but can’t provide free TP? That would be too much loss of face (pun intended).
    - stevenwoo 9y ago
      Might be remembering wrong, but I thought when I went to the Eiffel Tower about 30 years ago, I had to pay to use the bathroom (there was a coin thing on the door to the stalls). That doesn't seem very different to me, though obviously someone can pay to use a toilet and take all the toilet paper if it's on a roll inside.
      - michaelt 9y ago
        Bathrooms in London train stations used to be free - but a few years back, a lot of them started charging money. Usually around 20p, sometimes as much as 50p [1]. You can usually avoid paying (many stations have pubs and restaurants with free toilets, for example) but you don't have to go to 30 years ago to find OECD countries charging for public toilets :) [1] https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2015/sep/07/train-station-toilets-make-millions-every-year https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2015/sep/07/train-statio...
      - seanmcdirmid 9y ago
        I’m not sure what the point is. I encountered for-pay toilets long before I learned to pack my own TP around in Beijing. It’s just not very comparable. A good day was when you could find one that was sitting and not squatting.
  - strebler 9y ago
    I think they wanted to make it free but still deal with the fact that anything that isn't nailed down will get stolen in China. Even toilet paper - you should see the "rations" many hotels there give to guests for a night's stay.
    - boobsbr 9y ago
      > anything that isn't nailed down will get stolen In Brazil as well.
mc32 9y ago
So.... Can you at least say, "Ok, but I'll pay for more" in the event you find you need more (due to digestive issues)? I mean, unless that 70cm is soft double plied tissue, you are not gonna get many wipes out of it.
- averagewall 9y ago
  It would be a surprise to find any toilet paper in a public toilet, so someone who needs it will already have their own. Remember, the alternative to this is not unlimited toilet paper but no toilet paper, so it's an improvement for everyone.
  - lovemenot 9y ago
    >> Remember, the alternative to this is not unlimited toilet paper but no toilet paper ... ... but no toilet paper and no surveillance in the crapper ...

seanmcdirmid 9y ago

Before you had to bring your own toilet paper (when I visited the Temple of Heaven for the first time in 1999), or you could buy some from the attendant for a few mao (cents). Now that attendants are too expensive, they have to come up with something else, while tourists from the lesser tier cities still see bathroom provided toilet paper as a luxury.

blackbagboys 9y ago
It seems like this problem could more easily be solved with a vending machine than a complicated facial recognition apparatus.
- seanmcdirmid 9y ago
  Vending machines still means you’d have to pay for it. Beijing tried to market itself as international-level tourism, but can’t provide free TP? That would be too much loss of face (pun intended).
  - stevenwoo 9y ago
    Might be remembering wrong, but I thought when I went to the Eiffel Tower about 30 years ago, I had to pay to use the bathroom (there was a coin thing on the door to the stalls). That doesn't seem very different to me, though obviously someone can pay to use a toilet and take all the toilet paper if it's on a roll inside.
    - michaelt 9y ago
      Bathrooms in London train stations used to be free - but a few years back, a lot of them started charging money. Usually around 20p, sometimes as much as 50p [1]. You can usually avoid paying (many stations have pubs and restaurants with free toilets, for example) but you don't have to go to 30 years ago to find OECD countries charging for public toilets :) [1] https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2015/sep/07/train-station-toilets-make-millions-every-year https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2015/sep/07/train-statio...
    - seanmcdirmid 9y ago
      I’m not sure what the point is. I encountered for-pay toilets long before I learned to pack my own TP around in Beijing. It’s just not very comparable. A good day was when you could find one that was sitting and not squatting.
- strebler 9y ago
  I think they wanted to make it free but still deal with the fact that anything that isn't nailed down will get stolen in China. Even toilet paper - you should see the "rations" many hotels there give to guests for a night's stay.
  - boobsbr 9y ago
    > anything that isn't nailed down will get stolen In Brazil as well.

mc32 9y ago

So.... Can you at least say, "Ok, but I'll pay for more" in the event you find you need more (due to digestive issues)? I mean, unless that 70cm is soft double plied tissue, you are not gonna get many wipes out of it.

averagewall 9y ago
It would be a surprise to find any toilet paper in a public toilet, so someone who needs it will already have their own. Remember, the alternative to this is not unlimited toilet paper but no toilet paper, so it's an improvement for everyone.
- lovemenot 9y ago
  >> Remember, the alternative to this is not unlimited toilet paper but no toilet paper ... ... but no toilet paper and no surveillance in the crapper ...