A traditional dichotomy divides toilets into gentlemen's and ladies'. Yet there are always awkward situations such as a parent accompanying his or her child of the opposite sex. The "unisex toilet" provides a solution. Reporter Liu Xinqing ushers us into this possible new era from Zhengzhou, the capital of Henan province.

It's a space that goes beyond gender. It's also called "the third bathroom". More and more of these unisex toilets, or co-ed restrooms, are popping up on the streets of China in order to meet the needs of certain people. It's a convenient place to go if you need to accompany someone of the opposite gender who needs to use the bathroom. A child, an elderly parent or a disabled friend; or someone who just can't wait in the line.

ZHUANG CHUANWEI ZHENGZHOU RESIDENT "Such toilets are a great idea. Like my kid, at this age, it's not convenient to take her to the men's room when she needs to go."

LIU XINQING ZHENGZHOU, HENAN PROVINCE "The Unisex toilet is also called the 'gender-inclusive' or 'gender-neutral' toilet. It looks no different from any other toilet. But it does reflect the caring and inclusiveness of urban planning and is regarded as an important part of the 'Toilet Revolution', with a goal of making life more convenient for everyone."

But realizing that goal is a daunting challenge. One year after Zhengzhou city announced it would build 200 unisex toilets in 2018, it's still extremely difficult to find such toilets on the streets. And most people are unaware that they're now available in public places.

WANG RUIBIN ZHENGZHOU RESIDENT "I know there are such toilets in office buildings, but they're seldom seen in public areas."

ZHAO LU ZHENGZHOU RESIDENT "I have noticed such toilets in Karaoke bars, but I have never seen them in public places."

Most residents we spoke with say they welcome more unisex toilets in public, saying they'd make life much easier.

SU BAOHUA ZHENGZHOU RESIDENT "It will be more convenient with such toilets, especially for families of single parents or for the kids who are only accompanied by one parent. The physically challenged people can also use this kind of bathroom."

Improving toilet environment and allowing unisex features follow modern trends of making life more comfortable and convenient. Although the building of such toilets is not happening as quickly as expected, experts say it is moving in the right direction. Liu Xinqing, CGTN, Zhengzhou, Henan province.