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Your prices are off. Not 5 to 2 yuan in the 90s, more like 5 to 2 jiao. I remember 5 jiao bathroom places being common into the late 00s in Beijing (and literal

Your prices are off. Not 5 to 2 yuan in the 90s, more like 5 to 2 jiao. I remember 5 jiao bathroom places being common into the late 00s in Beijing (and literally why I would carry a few 5 jiao notes whenever I went out, along with tissue). There is no judicial independence or precedent in China, and localities typically set their own policies and standards. Even mandates are often just unfunded wishful thinking, you can still find pay toilets in China today especially in tourist places. Starbucks would always have a sit down toilet in Beijing malls, which was useful if the alternative was a squat toilet. But availability is nice, so that sit down toilet wasn’t very available and the squat toilet in the mall was, so whatever. The old guys smoking in the bathroom was a pretty big problem. 20 years ago at least, even in the squats. I feel sorry for girls, though, a fancy mall in xidan would always have a huge line for the women’s restroom that made my bladder cringe, well past 2015.

sharkrice 2y ago
Indeed, you are correct in mentioning the range from five jiao to two yuan. During my travels, I have often encountered overcrowded restrooms, especially in scenic areas and popular highway rest stops. The issue of long queues for women's restrooms is also significant, along with the presence of cigarette smoke. However, paid restrooms are indeed rare nowadays, at least in Zhuhai, which may be due to its status as a tourist city; the public restrooms there are well-maintained. When I can't find a public restroom, I often use the facilities in banks or government offices. As you mentioned, while local judicial rulings may not apply nationwide, central administrative directives do have a broad impact. In Guangdong Province, I rarely encounter obstacles when using restrooms in government departments, except during the pandemic.
- seanmcdirmid 2y ago
  China is big and its bathrooms are diverse. The worst bathroom I encountered was 5000 meters up in Sichuan, it was a shed on the road over a hole, and two very thin slippery wooden boards to squat on (yes, I was scared to death of falling in). Western China is always going to be different, however. The government has a limited attention span, so they'll start a 5 year plan to improve public restroom access, but then it is forgotten a year later. Things do gradually improve, but usually via the private sector (more places to wash up at restaurants and such). If you are living a normal life in a tier 1-3 city, you've already made all your adjustments and know what to expect. I'm less confident in less developed areas, and strike it as a win when I find something clean and sit down.

sharkrice 2y ago

Indeed, you are correct in mentioning the range from five jiao to two yuan. During my travels, I have often encountered overcrowded restrooms, especially in scenic areas and popular highway rest stops. The issue of long queues for women's restrooms is also significant, along with the presence of cigarette smoke. However, paid restrooms are indeed rare nowadays, at least in Zhuhai, which may be due to its status as a tourist city; the public restrooms there are well-maintained. When I can't find a public restroom, I often use the facilities in banks or government offices. As you mentioned, while local judicial rulings may not apply nationwide, central administrative directives do have a broad impact. In Guangdong Province, I rarely encounter obstacles when using restrooms in government departments, except during the pandemic.

seanmcdirmid 2y ago
China is big and its bathrooms are diverse. The worst bathroom I encountered was 5000 meters up in Sichuan, it was a shed on the road over a hole, and two very thin slippery wooden boards to squat on (yes, I was scared to death of falling in). Western China is always going to be different, however. The government has a limited attention span, so they'll start a 5 year plan to improve public restroom access, but then it is forgotten a year later. Things do gradually improve, but usually via the private sector (more places to wash up at restaurants and such). If you are living a normal life in a tier 1-3 city, you've already made all your adjustments and know what to expect. I'm less confident in less developed areas, and strike it as a win when I find something clean and sit down.