Beijing is upgrading its park toilets to better serve tourists during the August Olympiad.
This year, the capital had invested 15 million yuan (about 2.2 million U.S. dollars) in refurbishing 128 toilets in 11 city-managed parks. It was also building seven new ones.
According to a park administration center guideline, all park toilets must have their doors, windows and inner walls cleaned and painted. They also must be equipped with free soap, tissue, hand dryers and ultraviolet disinfection lamps.
Previously toilets at the famed Summer Palace saw long line-ups. Now, seating had been provided while they wait. Diaper tables have also been installed for tourists' convenience.
The upgraded toilets are all equipped with free soap and tissue and offer the disabled easy access and usage.
Each month, the Summer Palace's 23 toilets consumed 4,752 rolls of tissue, 214 liters of soap and 57.5 liters of detergent, a park spokesman said.
The expenditure on tissues alone in the 11 parks stood at 1.5 million yuan annually, an official with the park administration center said.
(Xinhua News Agency July 8, 2008)