Ancient town wows visitors with digitized public restrooms

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In a matter of seconds, Qian Yafen can easily locate the nearest vacant toilet on her cellphone.

"I downloaded an app, clicked 'find a restroom,' and then these just came up with pictures of nearby public restrooms, numbers of available toilets as well as maps showing how I could get there," Qian said.

She then chose to go to the nearest restroom. After entering the bathroom, she scanned a QR code on a tissue box which dispensed toilet paper for free. "It's brilliant! It helps avoid waste and solves my problem so quickly in a way that I'd never thought of," she said.

Qian was visiting the Old Town of Lijiang, a famous UNESCO World Heritage Site with an 800-year history in southwest China's Yunnan Province. It attracted more than 14 million tourists last year.

A view of the Old Town of Lijiang from Wangu Tower in southwest China's Yunnan Province. /VCG Photo

All 30 public restrooms in the Old Town are two-story buildings with traditional characteristics of the Naxi, the native ethnic group. Two LED screens hang at the entrance of each bathroom to designate both the men's and women's restrooms as well as a unisex room.

The screens also display the temperature in real time, humidity, and the concentration of hydrogen sulfide and ammonia gas.

"You can check the availability of toilets on the screen," said He Tang, a senior official with the protection and administrative bureau of Lijiang Old Town.

According to He, a deodorizer system has been installed, and real-time monitoring of hydrogen sulfide and ammonia gas on the LED screen reflect the air quality of the restroom.

"Lavatories are related to our most basic needs. We want to give visitors a five-star experience in the Old Town, and public restrooms cannot be left out either," he said.

Tourists visit Shifangjie Square in the Old Town of Lijiang, southwest China's Yunnan Province. /China Daily Photo

Since 2015, local authorities have invested more than 20 million yuan (3 million U.S. dollars) in renovating and maintaining public restrooms in the Old Town. Urine data such as sugar level is expected to be introduced in the future.

These public restrooms are the epitome of the ancient city's digital development.

There are 380 high-definition cameras working 24 hours a day in the Old Town to monitor public security and fire safety - video footage of which is accessed by local police stations and fire stations. "Facial recognition will be added into the system within the year," He said.

The monitoring system could also indicate real-time visitor numbers so tourists can quickly check whether the scenic area is crowded on 13 digital information screens in the Old Town or on its official WeChat account.

Two first-aid stations have been in operation at the Old Town since last year. By scanning a QR code or an ID card, one can get automated external defibrillators, stretchers, wheelchairs, bandages and other medical supplies for free.

Two visitors obtain a wheelchair from one of the two first-aid stations in the Old Town of Lijiang, southwest China's Yunan Province. /China Daily Photo

Meanwhile, local authorities have implemented a noise-control system which will cut off electricity at a bar if its noise level exceeds 85 decibels ten times.

"Digital integration is an inevitable trend, and it could make the ancient city more attractive and contribute to the sustainable development of its tourism industry," He said.

Source(s): China Daily