The Beijing Municipal Government has issued a document on
star-rating all toilets in scenic spots, in a move to offer better
services to domestic and foreign tourists.
The document classifies all toilets in scenic attractions into four
stars. It contains specific norms in 58 areas such as the floor
space, exterior decoration, the surrounding environment,
barrier-free design, equipment conditions and opening hours.
As
a world-famous tourist attraction, Beijing has made tremendous
improvements in tourism-related services. But it still far lags
behind developed areas in the world in terms of toilet
condition.
Of
the 206 complaints filed by tourists to the Beijing Consumers'
Association during the weeklong National Day holiday, one fifth
involved toilet problems.
(People’s Daily 11/29/2000)