Squat Toilet Guide for Travelers to China

What is a Chinese squat toilet? — 60-second primer

Full name & origin

蹲便器 / 蹲厕 (dūn-cè)—porcelain pan at floor level. Mass-adopted in public buildings during 1950s “Patriotic Sanitation” drive.

Design & posture

Shoes on pan’s foot-pads → heels toward raised ridge → squat facing the door (most cubicles plumbed this way).

Where you’ll meet them (2025)

≈ 75 % of public washrooms in train stations, parks, bus depots, older malls. Western seats now dominate hotels & Tier-1 airports. Still > 60% in transport hubs nationwide; tier-1 malls already < 40%. (Field estimate; see MoHURD bulletins for details)

Why locals still prefer

No skin-seat contact • better for plumbing (less paper) • faster turnover in busy venues.

Language & signage

Door label 男 / 女 or pictogram 🚹🚺; squat-only cubicles marked “蹲厕 only”; mixed rows show squat pan icon vs seat icon.

Tools & supplies

You supply toilet paper & hand sanitiser. Many cubicles lack paper to discourage clogging. Dispensers near entrance sell 2-ply packs for ¥1. Some AAA-grade toilets now stock free paper & soap (new MoCT requirement for AAA classification).

Cost

Free in public facilities; private sights ±¥2, pay by blue merchant QR or coin (foreign card OK on blue).

Good to know

Flush pedal or chrome handle usually behind you; if no flush, scoop water with provided bucket (冲桶).

TL;DR

Carry tissues, face the door, squat on the pads, scan a blue QR to buy paper if needed, and you’ll master China’s ubiquitous squat toilets without mishap.

🏆 Success Recipe

Carry pocket tissues (便携抽纸)

Avoid scramble—99 ¢ for 10-pack at any 7-Eleven.

Use entrance hand-wash sink before queue

Suds up when line long; after will be jammed.

Aim for “AAA Tourist Toilet” signs

Highest grade toilets (文化和旅游部) guarantee paper + soap.

Wet-wipe finish

Bring travel wipes; bins accept wipes labeled 可降解 (flushable).

Why it helps: These habits help you avoid the most common pitfalls and keep your experience clean and stress-free.

🔄 2024–25 Updates

🚻

Jun 2025: Beijing adds 2 800 seat-style cubicles in subway-line upgrades

Squat share drops to 58 % in Beijing subway; more Western seats in new stations.

Sources: Beijing Subway, Trip.com, Xiaohongshu, Dianping, Tiktok

🧻

Oct 2024: National “Toilet Revolution III” standard

New MoCT rule: all 5A/major tourist sites must provide at least one accessible (seat-style) cubicle per facility.

Sources: Ministry of Culture & Tourism, Trip.com, Xiaohongshu, Tiktok, Dianping

⚠️ Common Issues & Fixes

❌

No paper

Quick fix: Buy ¥1 pack at door (blue QR) or ask attendant: “有纸吗?”

💦

Slippery floor

Quick fix: Keep phone & wallet in zipped pocket; step on dry tile edges. Never stand on ceramic rim (‘No Footprints’ pictogram); mop buckets often cause puddles – step on dry tile edges.

🦵

Knee pain squatting

Quick fix: Look for seat cubicle icon or accessible stall.

🔍

Can’t find flush handle

Quick fix: Check floor left/right for grey pedal (踩踏).

🔄 Backup / Alternatives

♿

Accessible cubicle (无障碍厕所)

Always seat-style, wider door, often no queue.

• Always seat, never squat
• Wheelchair accessible
• Usually cleanest option

🍔

McDonald’s / KFC

Western seat + free paper; order anything or slip to back.

• Western seat, free paper
• Open to public
• Usually clean and safe

🏨

Hotel lobby restroom

Usually seat; security fine if you act like a guest.

• Western seat, free paper
• No purchase required
• Discreet and safe

🛠 Technical Notes

• Standard: GB/T 18025 squat pan; waste outlet Ø 100 mm.
• Water use: ≈ 6 L per pedal flush; bucket method 4–5 L.
• Bin rule: Bin color codes vary by city. If a bin is color-coded, follow the pictogram; in most cities white/grey bins are for tissue, red/yellow for medical or sanitary waste.
• Toilet grades: A < AA < AAA; AAA must provide soap, paper, dryer, seat-cover dispensers.