Digital advances solve the wee problem of finding a restroom
Print Edition
In a matter of seconds, Qian Yafen can locate the nearest vacant toilet on her cellphone.
鈥淚 downloaded an app, clicked 鈥榝ind a restroom鈥 and then they just came up, with pictures of nearby public restrooms, numbers of available toilets as well as maps showing how I can get there,鈥 Qian said.
Qian was visiting the Lijiang Old Town, a famous UNESCO World Heritage Site with an 800-year history, Yunnan Province, which attracted more than 14 million tourists last year.
鈥淭he Old Town is so charming. I love it, especially its fabulous lavatories 鈥 I even took pictures with them,鈥 she said.
All 30 public restrooms in the Old Town are two-story buildings with traditional Naxi characteristics, the native ethnic group.
Two LED screens hanging at the entrance of each restroom designate both the men鈥檚 and women鈥檚 room as well as a unisex room. The screens also display the real-time temperature, humidity, and the concentration of hydrogen sulfide and ammonia gas.
鈥淵ou can check the availability of each toilet on the screen,鈥 said He Tang, a senior official with the protection and administrative bureau of Lijiang Old Town.
According to He, a deodorization system has been installed, and the real-time monitoring of hydrogen sulfide and ammonia gas on the LED screen reflects the restroom鈥檚 air quality.
鈥淲e want to give visitors a five-star experience in the Old Town, and public restrooms cannot be left behind,鈥 he said.
Since 2015, local authorities have invested more than 20 million yuan (US$3 million) on renovating and maintaining public restrooms in the Old Town. Users will also be provided with data about their urine, such as sugar levels, in the future.
These public restrooms are the epitome of the ancient city鈥檚 digital development.
There are 380 high-definition cameras operating 24 hours in the Old Town to monitor public security, fire safety and other emergencies.
鈥淔acial recognition will be added into the system within the year,鈥 He said.
The monitoring system could also indicate real-time visitor flow so tourists can easily check whether the scenic area is crowded on 13 digital information screens or on the Old Town鈥檚 official WeChat account.
Two first-aid stations have been providing services since last year. Scanning a QR code or the ID card, a visitor could get Automated External Defibrillators, stretchers, wheelchairs, bandages and other medical supplies for free.
Meanwhile, local authorities have implemented a noise control system which will cut off the electricity to a bar if its noise exceeds 85 decibels 10 times.
鈥淒igital integration is an inevitable trend, which could make the ancient city more attractive and contribute to the sustainable development of its tourism industry,鈥 He said.
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