An added kink to my cross China investigation of toilets was that even though I was now used to the squat toilet, and in fact had even started to prefer them in some cases... (rather a clean squat than a dirty sit down... in fact rather a dirty squat than a dirty sit down...) after my adventures on Huangshan my legs were in pretty poor shape...

... and I couldn’t really squat without making the kind of groaning sound that might lead other public bathroom users to think that I was having trouble of another sort.  Anyway, this also slowed me down on my Beijing leg as I had to seek out suitable conveniences - at least for the first day or so.

Another important thing to know about toilets in Beijing is that the plumbing is ancient, so perhaps to save face there are masses of signs and notices on saving paper and the need to put your “waste paper” in the bins located to the side of the toilet - whereas perhaps the real issue is the continually blocked up drains.  Be careful what you flush (or rather try to flush).

Most toilets, be they in the paid parks, hotels or restaurants seemed to be roughly of the same quality, although cleanliness was variable depending on the time of day.  Unlike Shanghai most are squat toilets, with the occasional sit down toilet to be found at the end of the cubicles (often the dirtiest toilet in the block).  These are the kind of toilets that I can use if I am absolutely desperate but I can imagine my mother refusing to enter (and once or twice the sight of the toilet was enough to make my body decide it could wait after all!)

Included in the above are the toilets of The Forbidden City - according to the sign these are 4 star - not sure I would agree!  Disappointing toilets include these, those in Haagen Daazs, Dadong Duck Restaurant, most shopping centres - I eventually found myself popping back to my hotel just to use the loo and have an iced coffee before heading out again.

On my last day I had to bite the bullet and visit public toilets in Hou Hai - which is one of the few free parks in Beijing (I only had enough money for a coffee or a taxi home and my legs needed the taxi!)  Shock horror, it was possibly the cleanest toilet I visited in Beijing - the only danger was that the floor was practically still bubbling from cleaning fluids.  (Of course, with toilets, timing is everything and I can’t vouch for the time you choose to visit, but it does go to show that sometimes the best things in life ARE free!)

Also I have to mention the most beautiful airport toilets in the international departure area of Beijing Airport - pretty!