What are all these bags of tissues all about? How and why do I use a Chinese toilet? What do they look like? How do you use them and how do you ask for the toilet?
the squat position is easier to push out than sitting on toilet. The first time I used sitting toilet was 14 year old. I was not used to it and I could not finish my job. When i have constipation,it helps with using squat toilet.
Then the problem is actually the constipation, and applying force makes it a lot worse and is not healthy for the hemorrhoids. People need to learn gentle force, tensing up the abdomen as a signal to the body and then letting the body do the rest. Requires patience especially until the diet situation is improved. There might even be a spiritual lesson in this problem: People tend to fixate on the symptoms and results instead of applying energy at the root and not trying to control every step of a process.
I love Serpentza's videos they really tell it as it is,no they are not negative, in fact he extols the positive virtues of a foreigner living in china, but he just tells every subject he covers with Honesty and objectivity, well done Winston!
I remember during my last visit, my mother and I were at the open air market and this little old lady walked toward us and asked for toilet paper. I was so weirded out; that never happens in the US. Within the hour I quickly found out how precious of a commodity these tissue packets were when at a restaurant while eating, and using the bathroom. We went to the supermarket and bought a big box of tissue packets for the whole family crew.
I have been making my way through Winston's videos and leaving comments. I truly do appreciate the work he is doing with his videos, and I enjoy his westernized viewpoints. More times than not, I do not think he goes far enough in his explanations or he cannot equate Chinese culture and traditions to the things he speaks about. I find this common among many expats here in China. As for me, I have been living in China for about half the time that Winston has. Chinese culture and traditions are very fascinating to me and I try to learn all I can about past traditions, ones that are dying out, and the new traditions that are taking over in China. I believe this is why I have different perspectives about Winston's videos. I do have a blog of my five years here in China that I use to provide information about China, much like Winston does. Anyway, let me provide more information about toilets in China that Winston had left out. Please do not misunderstand my comments in saying that I am saying that Winston is incorrect. Far be it. He is usually on target with his topics and commentary. Being a man, urinals are an interesting topic. Winston's video showed a standard, modern urinal. I wonder how many train stations, public schools, or public street restrooms he has visited, as these images get embedded in one's memory. Most of the time, they are trough type urinals and are dirtier than a pig's trough. The smell from the restrooms is overpowering and often makes a person gag. What's more, men who are using urinals often do not step right up to the urinal. They will stand a foot or more back from the contraption. In doing so, not only are their "privates" exposed to all, but that steady stream of urine does not stay stead towards the end. You can imagine the puddles that get formed from standing away from a urinal. On top f this, many men will not just unzip to do their urinal business, they will unbuckle the belt, unsnap the pants, unzip the zipper, and struggle to keep the pant up as they do their business. Signs above the urinals are used as reminders to step closer to the urinal. A funny one that was in both Chinese and English read, "We aim to please, so you should please aim". On the same note of urinal business, a foreigner is a unique thing to see, and see the Chinese do. Especially young boys. I work as a teacher and I can not tell you how many times I have been accosted at a urinal with prying eyes. Even the older men will sneak peeks. Winston is correct that most westerners have difficulty managing a squat toilet. As a larger man, my knees do not work that way and my balance is always wrong. Many public toilets are 100 times worse than those old, dirty bathrooms from the gas stations from the 1970's where your mother would warn you not to touch anything. Trains are the worst. Most of the times, I can see the tracks wizzing by through the hole as the waste is deposited directly to the outside. Sometimes you have to pay 1 rmb to a toilet keeper to use them. They are actually hired and LIVE at the location. They are given a small room to make their home. In most restaurants and other public buildings, the restrooms are on an upper floor. For example, most McDonald's are at least two stories. The toilets are always on the second floor. One good place to find western toilets are at Starbucks. They always have them, although there is usually only one toilet that is unisex and you often have to wait in a line. Many of a times I have gone into them to find shoe markings on the toilet seat showing where the last person used it as a squat toilet. One final story for you. I have a friend that built a new house out in the country. It is quite nice as the typical three story homes are. During my first visit, I was quite amazed at the fact that the restroom did not have a toilet of any manner. New house with a shower, washer and sink, but no toilet. They still go outside to stand on two cinder blocks over a dug hole in the ground with a blanket on a clothesline to shield themselves for privacy. What is worse, they live in an part of China where the winters are very cold. When I asked why they had done this, I was told that they did not have enough money to put in a toilet and the sewer system is not established. In fact, the "public" toilets that most residents used are concrete walls with no roof, emptying the waster into open sewage canals that empty into ditches along the road. Please keep in mind that this is a very rural area. But, it does play with my western sensitivities.
Proper toilet paper is specifically designed to easily dissolve in water, that is why it just becomes a mess if you use it to clean up a spill and also why you shouldn't flush down regular tissue paper in the toilet. That paper doesn't dissolve in the same way and may get stuck in the plumbing. Proper toilet paper shouldn't get stuck.
I learned to squat as a child traveling in Asia. It's not difficult. We learned to carry TP with us because there was almost never any provided. Instead there was a small faucet within reach and you were expected to clean yourself with your hand and some water. I could never bring myself to do that.
Your are the real thing! In the movies no one ever goes to the bathroom. Thanks for keeping it real, believe it or not that is extremely useful information. When I grow up I want to open a Pub in China named "Hong Phoenix and the squatting Dragon." My Pub tissues advertizing will say "Come get wiped with us."
Speaking of toilet, even in the west, i rarely use public toilet because most of them are gross. If I have to use one, i normally had to use a bunch of toilet paper to clean the toilet seat and put a section of toilet paper on both side to keep my skin from touching the toilet seat.
Haha! So funny, you reminded me of my kids. They were both raised in Greece where we do not flush toilet paper but completely disgusted my folks whenever we visited home as they would use the small waste paper basket in the bathroom for their toilet paper. And habits are habits, no matter how many times it was explained, the paper would still end up in the bin.
Squatting crappers, split pig pork delivered on the back of a motorbike, scams every where... Let's go! But seriously, you and C are doing a great job showing us the far away places that most of us will never get to; Thanks!
Found these in Eastern Europe and of course Japan, too. Back in Canada, we say "washrooms", "men's or ladies room", "heads or latrine in military" and "bathroom" but that's usually for a place where bath is attached.
I travel to China often. Most recently this past summer in the Western Regions. All of your experiences are spot on. Watching these makes me feel as if I'm there. I do wish my language skills where up to your level. Best of luck to you.
07:00 Ah! Those were the days! I wish I could use those Chinese toilets. Still it wouldn't be much of a problem for those of us who can void our colons before showering in the morning.Then it's a matter of using a public urinal until returning home in the evening. Sitting on a public western toilet isn't very appealing either. As you say, best to take care of business at home.
Mr. Winston, Thank you!, for sharing this important information of "How it is" when visiting China on the issue of "Tissues, & Toilets", I find it very helpful to know what to expect should the need arise for me. Wonderful work you do for us subscribers. Good luck in your continuing work of "How it is" series. Always enjoy watching your stories.
It's OK to ask the restaurant or hotel for toilet papers if there's no toilet papers. In your house, you can buy a pressurized water host thing to put on your western toilet, but it is rarely seen in public restrooms.
Westerners are not used to squatting and its painful if not impossible. You can also mimic squatting by putting a foot stand on the base of the toilet.
When I was in China I thought, someone needs to invent and patent a little machine. Like a small version of a garbage grinder that you find in kitchen sinks. You could put the paper in, then press the button which would release a small amount of water while grinding the paper to a pulp and then washing it down into the sewer. This would solve the problem of sheets of toilet paper getting stuck in the pipes and blocking the sewers, and get rid of this problem.
We just say toilet in Australia. It's extremely rare to find a house here with the main toilet built into the bathroom (master bedroom ensuites always have a toilet though), it almost always has it's own little room. So if you asked where the bathroom was, you'd be told where the actual bathroom is, not the toilet. But the toilet is usually right next to the bathroom, so it'd be hard to miss anyway.
I didn’t know we have squat toilets everywhere too. Most of us clean with water over there. Perhaps that could solve the situation where the plumbing system can’t handle toilet paper? That’s just a thought. That would be a lot more preferable and less smelly.
When I was in China we visited a resturant in a smaller village and their toilet had three squat "holes" but no walls between. So basically when I entered there was one guy already squatted and doing his business :=). I had to wait outside until the coast was "clear" and prayed noone would enter while I was in there. Thankfully noone did.
I honestly never knew that there was an alternative toilet set up. That blew me away when you mentioned that they squat on western toilet seats. Crazy! i have been to France many times an i have never seen that alternative setup.
"I don't really feel the need to eat pork around this area anymore". Best ending ever! I have been considering going vegetarian for the trip, since, well, things like that.
the squatting position is actually a lot more healthy for evacuating the waste. For people that have colon health problems, the first thing the doctor will recommend is to use these so-called "Turkish toilets".
Just forgot to mention - so people do not think that Americans go for the hole in the floor of their bathrooms.The Squatty Potty is just a tool how to raise your feet and enable you to go when you do it in to the regular toilet without standing on the seat which dangerous since one may slip or loose a balance.
When I used to live in Europe, there are a lot of countries where the squat toilets were in use. For instance, France, and a lot of Eastern Europe, North Africa, and the Middle East. Toilet paper was not used there, either, nor was there a dustbin provided. Instead, there was a water faucet to the left of the toilet, and you were supposed to turn on the water, wet your left hand, and use it to clean your butt. That's why the French invented the bidet, so the more elegant person could avoid using his or her left hand. Also, that's why the left hand is considered dirty in places such as North Africa, and people never touch one another with the left hand or use it when eating, and so on. Touching someone with the left hand could get a person killed. In fact, when the governments punished a thief by chopping off a hand, it was always the right hand, since that forced the wretch to eat with his left. A decent thief would promptly starve rather than eat with his remaining left hand, and if a person punished in this way continued to live, everyone knew he was eating with his left hand. Now it's been some years since I live in those countries, so it is possible that some of them have adopted the British/American standard.
Thanks Wilson! I am looking forward for the trip to China in October but not looking forward for that. Yes, I am definitely going to take care all of my problems before any trip out in their public places.
When I returned from living in South America I almost knelt down and kissed the white porcelain toilet in the McDonalds at the Miami airport I was so happy to see it.
Reminds me a bit of when I returned from the USA and the first thing I did at Frankfurt airport (after briefly checking out the water prices at a vending machine) was drinking bathroom tap water. After three months of dealing with chlorine smell, it felt like picnic at a spring.
I've watched with interest as whilst in Chingpu (near Shanghai) I had a stomach bug and my whose from Sha took me to the medical centre in Chingpu garden city and the confusion would've left me thinking that staying away would've been better their treatment I received was very effective and going to hospital with a Chinese speaker is the way I'm from Meyerton near Vereeniging in Southern Transvaal keep awesome as I'm doing
I was stationed in Korea and at 06:50 is what we called the kimchee squat.Difficult for a Westerner , but circumstances dictate a quick mastery of the technique.LOL!These types of public toilets are also found throughout the Arab world.
Thanks for making this Video. It is not a nice Topic to talk about it is still necessary to talk about it. The toilet Situation is one of the main Things I am worrying about when coming to China next for for a couple of month to study Chinese. Thanks to your Video I know now what I have to expect.
"I wasn't really aware of this until..... I got here." Lol Definitely a reality check. Every time the car scenes cut in with the music, I see Vinnie in Snatch saying "I love this track."
Squatting is more of a natural position when you're passing the number 2. Then, we got civilized and invented the toilet seats. It's both good and bad, pros: if you're a heavy set or an elderly and afraid if you squat and can't get up, the seats might be the best option or if you're lazy and you just want to sit. Cons: have you been to SOME of the public bathroom in the US or EU, emphasis on some, not all of them, but sometime I am afraid to even put my butt cheeks on those seats, I pretty much just hover over the seats. Squatting toilet eliminates the toilet seat dilemmas and you get your 5 min workout. They should definitely work on water soluble tissues. I do like their flushing mechanism, most flushing mechanism in the US or EU uses the handle, where you suppose push or pull with you hand to flush. Some handles you can use you feet, but you still have lift you feet and press on the handle with an awkward pose. If only there was a picture for every time I use my feet to press the handle to flush. Most squatting toilet use the foot handle flush. Yay, no hands! Although, most of the newer public bathroom in the US and EU, now uses the sensor flush toilet, some of them don't even have a handle anymore. Only bad thing is if the sensor got bad, it won't flush or it constantly flush while you're doing your business, and the splashing water on your behind. It's not that hard to block the sensor, a simple piece of black duck tape over the sensor would trick the toilet to thinking that a person sitting on the throne permanently so it won't flush until that person leaves.
In Hong Kong where i grew up we had a European style toilet for the ex pats and our Amor's (home help ) built on small apartment had the 'hole in the floor squat type'
I gotta say that you have some major league balls for driving in China. I used to live in Beijing for a while and would have pissed my pants trying to get behind the wheel over there.
I also have trouble using the squat toilets. I first encountered them in the '90s in France - they were pretty common there then too (not sure about now). So, it's not just an Asian thing. Also, I remember an Asian friend who was born/raised in the US, actually often squats when waiting since it is more comfortable than standing...so, I actually suspect there is something different about the Asian knee that makes it more comfortable than for westerners.
My aunt mentioned public bathhouses before and she lives in China so I would say yes, china has them as well. I'm pretty sure that china would have hot springs too. Also, I lived in a house-hotel in China before and it was pretty big (2 stories) and it included western toilets and bathtubs; it was really nice overall.hope this helps
In Disneyland Shanghai they have signs in the toilet stalls saying specifically to flush TP. Also Pizza Hut and Starbucks have Western toilets. Also in women's toilets you'll find urine that missed the bowl....
Yes, tissues a useful topic. Especially as i have hey fever and a cold. Yes, toilets are not that clean in Asia - and the smell is .... i did hear the squat toilets are better for health. Yes, a lot of the tissue paper can block the drains so they get you to use water and then drop paper in bin nearby. I used to go to expensive hotels for a ..... and also to just freshen up. Usually, they have hot water and toilet roll soap etc. Most times if you are a foreigner they do not realise you are not staying there. - Thanks.
In Thailand I took a trip from Bangkok to Changmai on a train and they had squatting toilets that were open that dropped on the train tracks and there was many people in shacks that lined the tracks closely.
In fact its good for human and healtheir to use it non of your skin will tuch the toilt just drop clean self and stand up we also used it in our lifes in middleast
+TheLeatherChannel First, your question presupposes facts not in evidence, and for which you provide no citation. Second, even if it WERE true, the difference could be easily explained by the difference in availability and quality of health care. Using a squat toilet is indeed more sanitary than using the standard Western sit-down toilet, for the simple reason that one's buttocks (or any other body part) never actually touches the toilet, and it's healthier because it promotes more complete and natural bowel movement. Constipation and diarrhea are very rare in China (where I live now), but treatments for those are advertised constantly in the US.
William Allman constipation and diarrhea are the result of diet, not the position you're in when you eliminate. Squatting doesn't make a loose stool firm. By the time it's in position to exit no amount of squatting is going to change consistency. You made the statement with thought? Really? Americans who have a proper diet don't have digestive problems, but judging by the quantity of anti-acids sold and diarrhea and constipation medications sold, few seem to know how to eat. THATS the problem, not whether you squat or not. Billions of people sit on toilets without any outbreaks of disease. In fact, I'd say there are more outbreaks in countries where people squat, so toilets aren't the problem. Now, supposing squatting does allow you more complete elimination, do you really believe there are consequences if it doesn't all come out? What would those be? Were you plagued with health issues before you moved to China? You see, just trying to make statements about a topic using unrelated facts never works. I hope your work in China is not in the educational field because perhaps you should reconsider your line of work.
TheLeatherChannel I don't see anywhere in my comment where I said anything about squatting changing the consistency of one's stool, nor does my comment make any statement about the cause of diarrhea and constipation (although I know very well what causes them). Perhaps you should read it again, because your reply seems to indicate you didn't comprehend what I said in addition to throwing in more
I am surprised that they haven’t figured out that that you could use water to clean yourself in the restroom. These be days in some parts of Europe, or in less developed countries, they use house like contractions or water pills and Spicket‘s like they do in India or some parts of the Middle East. Great video that out. I guess if I go to China, I always have a tissue/as well as some wet wipes or baby wipes.
W.C. Water Closet is the correct definition of a Toilet Pedestal Pan which has an "S" Trap below it. Its terminology is used by Builders and in Architectural Drawings to this day. The "Squat Toilet" was commonly known in S-E Asia as a Siamese Toilet. Common in Burma too for native people who prefer to squat. Furthermore, the Squat Toilet come in two types. With & Without the "S" Trap and or Flush Tank plumbed to it. The human anatomy lends itself to squat-excretion easier and once accustomed to squatting for No.2, one cannot poo seated on a European Toilet Pan. The body's anatomy will NOT co-operate. As I grew older I had to resort to being seated upon the W.C. Commode (seat) and Raise my Left Foot on a small stool on the floor to have pressure on the lower descending cologn. Q.E.D.
In this content China has some similarities to Western Europe... Here there are also bins and we can't flush tissues down the toilet, there's always a warning sign not to flush it. Plus, here we use the word WC as well. I remember when I was younger, about 10 years ago, squat toilets were quite common as well, especially in rest stops. Now it's rare to find those.
Great, great videos.I like to add little about the squatting toilets. Hey, did anybody here went ever hiking? That's how you do it in the nature and it is a very healthy way to finish you food passage. You colon is in the better ankle to empty completely when you squat. Sitting toilets doesn't allowed that and that is a one more reason why there is so much colon cancer in western countries - with all the science behind it.Just google "squatty potty" and find out why they are a big hit in USA health conscious population !!!
I`m from Northeast China, the facts are : 1. From 2011-2013, people began to realize that some of restaurants didn`t offer free tissues no more, we were just as surprised as you are, but after 2014, things fall back to normal again. 2. Almost every public toilet stinks all over China, except for those in Government facilities and high class shopping malls which they have dedicated cleaners standing by all the time to clean up the "shit" , same rule goes to toilet tissue/paper.
I just finished a plumbing course in London, UK in 2014. Judging by the reaction to the hygiene situation by foreigners living in Chinas multicultural cities.Toilets, sanitation public plumbing infrastructure seems like a fairly untapped area. Given most people would be coming over from villages and never even been challenged with western style hygiene,toilets,sanitation,plumbing I would expect a sort of natural reeducation reevaluation and thereafter demand to take place as exposure slowly takes place for most Chines people in the coming decades. How do locals who know of wests hygiene,sanitary etc feel about this?
I don't know why but it was absolutely hilarious when you knocked over the toilet paper cover in the McDonalds bathroom. Probably because it was simply unexpected.
Lol I was at Pizza Hutt in Shanghai and I was asking the lady if they had a bathroom, trying to say it in Mandarin. She replys "WC!? WC!?" I wasn't sure what she meant at the time, found it quite funny afterwards.
Another interesting thing to note is that it's been proving that squatting is a far more biologically natural posture for that, our up-right toilets may be comfortable but that doesn't necessarily make them better.
haha reverse mind_blow for me as a chinese. squatting is rest for me. my 81 y. o. grandpa squats in the yard and listens to the radio all day. if i get too tired for standing too long (for instance taking a super long subway ride) i would go squat in a toilet for a while, just to rest my legs.. i live on school campus with quat toilets, and every time i get back home i get a little constipated in the sitting position...before i met any westerners, it never occurred to me that squatting can be a weird and hard movement.. and honestly even when i travel to places with seat toilets i get a little icky to touch the seat with my butt... i always just half_sit and leave an inch of space between my butt and the seat.
You'll find the squat toilets in some of the more rural parts of france still, especially out of the way services. Hate to say it, but they are just plain more hygenic... The reason for the tissues into a bin, is unless its a certain type of paper, the bleach in it kills the enzymes which eat the waste in septic tank systems. I'd imagine that a lot of places aren't on mainline sewerage systems, this keeps their septic tank bugs alive and healthy so they do the job properly. No shame in that.
Cant help but want more of these. But I have to ask at this point, Serpentza. Is it just a radio station you have of 80s music, mp3s playing or what ? lol Cause if it is a radio station, it makes moving there all the better next year.
![[[OFFICIAL MV]] เอิ้นขวัญให้อ้าย- อ๊ะอาย สกุณาพร | ค่ายเพลงเป็นหนึ่ง](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/83x6L3X3qh0/mqdefault.jpg)
"... because I don't want you to see what terrors lurk within". I am very often entertained by your choice of words! Stay Awesome!
the squat position is easier to push out than sitting on toilet. The first time I used sitting toilet was 14 year old. I was not used to it and I could not finish my job. When i have constipation,it helps with using squat toilet.
bernard chen if I had to live in a country like that I would kill myself, for so many reasons
squatting in others people's piss makes it all the more fun
Then the problem is actually the constipation, and applying force makes it a lot worse and is not healthy for the hemorrhoids. People need to learn gentle force, tensing up the abdomen as a signal to the body and then letting the body do the rest. Requires patience especially until the diet situation is improved.
There might even be a spiritual lesson in this problem: People tend to fixate on the symptoms and results instead of applying energy at the root and not trying to control every step of a process.
I love Serpentza's videos they really tell it as it is,no they are not negative, in fact he extols the positive virtues of a foreigner living in china, but he just tells every subject he covers with Honesty and objectivity, well done Winston!
btw, the letters WC (which stand for water closet) are used very frequently in Norway and perhaps other European countries as well :)
same.... used all over south Asia too
Funny that you mention that, I just moved to Rome and have been confused by the WC posted at bathrooms... Thanks!!
I thought it was washing chamber.
Belgium. Used here ll the time. I never knew wgat it stood for exactly until now lmao
The falling toiilet paper dispenser! wow I am crying that was too funny!!!
When I lived in Italy back in the 90s most of the toilets there were still squat, especially in the public bathrooms.
southern italy probably. thats not a very western country.
The squat toilets shown in this video are exceptionally clean. You have been warned. :-)
For sure, sooner or later, you will get the "trots." And then, the whole deal becomes a nightmare!
In Greece we call them turkish toilets and they supposed to be the most hygiene cuz you don't touch anything
2012 Flashback.
I remember during my last visit, my mother and I were at the open air market and this little old lady walked toward us and asked for toilet paper. I was so weirded out; that never happens in the US. Within the hour I quickly found out how precious of a commodity these tissue packets were when at a restaurant while eating, and using the bathroom. We went to the supermarket and bought a big box of tissue packets for the whole family crew.
The only trouble I have with squat toilets is I have to take my trousers and underpants completely off, in fear my by business may fall into them.
I have been making my way through Winston's videos and leaving comments. I truly do appreciate the work he is doing with his videos, and I enjoy his westernized viewpoints. More times than not, I do not think he goes far enough in his explanations or he cannot equate Chinese culture and traditions to the things he speaks about. I find this common among many expats here in China. As for me, I have been living in China for about half the time that Winston has. Chinese culture and traditions are very fascinating to me and I try to learn all I can about past traditions, ones that are dying out, and the new traditions that are taking over in China. I believe this is why I have different perspectives about Winston's videos. I do have a blog of my five years here in China that I use to provide information about China, much like Winston does. Anyway, let me provide more information about toilets in China that Winston had left out. Please do not misunderstand my comments in saying that I am saying that Winston is incorrect. Far be it. He is usually on target with his topics and commentary. Being a man, urinals are an interesting topic. Winston's video showed a standard, modern urinal. I wonder how many train stations, public schools, or public street restrooms he has visited, as these images get embedded in one's memory. Most of the time, they are trough type urinals and are dirtier than a pig's trough. The smell from the restrooms is overpowering and often makes a person gag. What's more, men who are using urinals often do not step right up to the urinal. They will stand a foot or more back from the contraption. In doing so, not only are their "privates" exposed to all, but that steady stream of urine does not stay stead towards the end. You can imagine the puddles that get formed from standing away from a urinal. On top f this, many men will not just unzip to do their urinal business, they will unbuckle the belt, unsnap the pants, unzip the zipper, and struggle to keep the pant up as they do their business. Signs above the urinals are used as reminders to step closer to the urinal. A funny one that was in both Chinese and English read, "We aim to please, so you should please aim". On the same note of urinal business, a foreigner is a unique thing to see, and see the Chinese do. Especially young boys. I work as a teacher and I can not tell you how many times I have been accosted at a urinal with prying eyes. Even the older men will sneak peeks. Winston is correct that most westerners have difficulty managing a squat toilet. As a larger man, my knees do not work that way and my balance is always wrong. Many public toilets are 100 times worse than those old, dirty bathrooms from the gas stations from the 1970's where your mother would warn you not to touch anything. Trains are the worst. Most of the times, I can see the tracks wizzing by through the hole as the waste is deposited directly to the outside. Sometimes you have to pay 1 rmb to a toilet keeper to use them. They are actually hired and LIVE at the location. They are given a small room to make their home. In most restaurants and other public buildings, the restrooms are on an upper floor. For example, most McDonald's are at least two stories. The toilets are always on the second floor. One good place to find western toilets are at Starbucks. They always have them, although there is usually only one toilet that is unisex and you often have to wait in a line. Many of a times I have gone into them to find shoe markings on the toilet seat showing where the last person used it as a squat toilet. One final story for you. I have a friend that built a new house out in the country. It is quite nice as the typical three story homes are. During my first visit, I was quite amazed at the fact that the restroom did not have a toilet of any manner. New house with a shower, washer and sink, but no toilet. They still go outside to stand on two cinder blocks over a dug hole in the ground with a blanket on a clothesline to shield themselves for privacy. What is worse, they live in an part of China where the winters are very cold. When I asked why they had done this, I was told that they did not have enough money to put in a toilet and the sewer system is not established. In fact, the "public" toilets that most residents used are concrete walls with no roof, emptying the waster into open sewage canals that empty into ditches along the road. Please keep in mind that this is a very rural area. But, it does play with my western sensitivities.
We used to have a lot of squat toilets in eastern europe up to 90s too. We still squat a lot too.
Proper toilet paper is specifically designed to easily dissolve in water, that is why it just becomes a mess if you use it to clean up a spill and also why you shouldn't flush down regular tissue paper in the toilet. That paper doesn't dissolve in the same way and may get stuck in the plumbing. Proper toilet paper shouldn't get stuck.
I learned to squat as a child traveling in Asia. It's not difficult. We learned to carry TP with us because there was almost never any provided. Instead there was a small faucet within reach and you were expected to clean yourself with your hand and some water. I could never bring myself to do that.
Was pleasantly surprised to hear "Electric Blue" by Icehouse playing in your car. Cool nostalgic 80's song.👍
Your are the real thing! In the movies no one ever goes to the bathroom. Thanks for keeping it real, believe it or not that is extremely useful information. When I grow up I want to open a Pub in China named "Hong Phoenix and the squatting Dragon." My Pub tissues advertizing will say "Come get wiped with us."
Speaking of toilet, even in the west, i rarely use public toilet because most of them are gross. If I have to use one, i normally had to use a bunch of toilet paper to clean the toilet seat and put a section of toilet paper on both side to keep my skin from touching the toilet seat.
Yes of course . Most humans do that .
Haha! So funny, you reminded me of my kids. They were both raised in Greece where we do not flush toilet paper but completely disgusted my folks whenever we visited home as they would use the small waste paper basket in the bathroom for their toilet paper. And habits are habits, no matter how many times it was explained, the paper would still end up in the bin.
Squatting crappers, split pig pork delivered on the back of a motorbike, scams every where... Let's go! But seriously, you and C are doing a great job showing us the far away places that most of us will never get to; Thanks!
Found these in Eastern Europe and of course Japan, too. Back in Canada, we say "washrooms", "men's or ladies room", "heads or latrine in military" and "bathroom" but that's usually for a place where bath is attached.
8:20 "...the logistics of the whole thing..." wonderful,
I travel to China often. Most recently this past summer in the Western Regions. All of your experiences are spot on. Watching these makes me feel as if I'm there. I do wish my language skills where up to your level. Best of luck to you.
07:00 Ah! Those were the days! I wish I could use those Chinese toilets. Still it wouldn't be much of a problem for those of us who can void our colons before showering in the morning.Then it's a matter of using a public urinal until returning home in the evening. Sitting on a public western toilet isn't very appealing either. As you say, best to take care of business at home.
Mr. Winston, Thank you!, for sharing this important information of "How it is" when visiting China on the issue of "Tissues, & Toilets", I find it very helpful to know what to expect should the need arise for me. Wonderful work you do for us subscribers. Good luck in your continuing work of "How it is" series. Always enjoy watching your stories.
Epic Aussie 80s song at 4:36 - Icehouse - Electric Blue. Awesome to hear it was on your playlist!
Thank you for this whole series, it will be of great assistance for me in China!
Funnily enough, you'll see WC on many bathroom doors in Scandinavia. Maybe it's a European thing.
and in UK as well
Yes it is
Very good video.. Brought back memories when I visited Beihei in 2007. Like your selection of music as well... Maria Magdalena by Sandra.
It's OK to ask the restaurant or hotel for toilet papers if there's no toilet papers. In your house, you can buy a pressurized water host thing to put on your western toilet, but it is rarely seen in public restrooms.
but isn't squatting the best positions to shit?
HairyLifeofHarry - only if you're a dog
Not if you're a fish.
Westerners are not used to squatting and its painful if not impossible. You can also mimic squatting by putting a foot stand on the base of the toilet.
yes.. it's more healthy.. westerners are using sit toilet.. look at them.. more people get stomach diseases or stomach cancer.
@@ayyiramadhini generalisation
When I was in China I thought, someone needs to invent and patent a little machine. Like a small version of a garbage grinder that you find in kitchen sinks. You could put the paper in, then press the button which would release a small amount of water while grinding the paper to a pulp and then washing it down into the sewer. This would solve the problem of sheets of toilet paper getting stuck in the pipes and blocking the sewers, and get rid of this problem.
I found several western style toilets around Changzhou when I first visited my wife (gf then)
during July, 2010
We just say toilet in Australia. It's extremely rare to find a house here with the main toilet built into the bathroom (master bedroom ensuites always have a toilet though), it almost always has it's own little room. So if you asked where the bathroom was, you'd be told where the actual bathroom is, not the toilet. But the toilet is usually right next to the bathroom, so it'd be hard to miss anyway.
I didn’t know we have squat toilets everywhere too. Most of us clean with water over there.
Perhaps that could solve the situation where the plumbing system can’t handle toilet paper? That’s just a thought.
That would be a lot more preferable and less smelly.
i like this guy. i chilled in shanghai for 2 months last summer while taking classes at jiao tong university. china's exactly like he says.
When I was in China we visited a resturant in a smaller village and their toilet had three squat "holes" but no walls between. So basically when I entered there was one guy already squatted and doing his business :=). I had to wait outside until the coast was "clear" and prayed noone would enter while I was in there. Thankfully noone did.
Sandra - Maria Magdalena
Haven´t heard that Song in 30 years or so. I didn´t know this song was popular outside of Germany.
Interesting about the term WC used in China, in the Philippines they use the term CR or comfort room.
HOLY SHIT!!! That is Electric Blue by Icehouse playing at 4:37.
+Spenser Snyder sure is
I honestly never knew that there was an alternative toilet set up. That blew me away when you mentioned that they squat on western toilet seats. Crazy! i have been to France many times an i have never seen that alternative setup.
In Mexico they had waste cans with lids to dispose of toilet paper in. At the Crown Plaza in Monterey you could flush the paper.
"I don't really feel the need to eat pork around this area anymore". Best ending ever! I have been considering going vegetarian for the trip, since, well, things like that.
the squatting position is actually a lot more healthy for evacuating the waste. For people that have colon health problems, the first thing the doctor will recommend is to use these so-called "Turkish toilets".
Just forgot to mention - so people do not think that Americans go for the hole in the floor of their bathrooms.The Squatty Potty is just a tool how to raise your feet and enable you to go when you do it in to the regular toilet without standing on the seat which dangerous since one may slip or loose a balance.
When I used to live in Europe, there are a lot of countries where the squat toilets were in use. For instance, France, and a lot of Eastern Europe, North Africa, and the Middle East. Toilet paper was not used there, either, nor was there a dustbin provided. Instead, there was a water faucet to the left of the toilet, and you were supposed to turn on the water, wet your left hand, and use it to clean your butt. That's why the French invented the bidet, so the more elegant person could avoid using his or her left hand. Also, that's why the left hand is considered dirty in places such as North Africa, and people never touch one another with the left hand or use it when eating, and so on. Touching someone with the left hand could get a person killed. In fact, when the governments punished a thief by chopping off a hand, it was always the right hand, since that forced the wretch to eat with his left. A decent thief would promptly starve rather than eat with his remaining left hand, and if a person punished in this way continued to live, everyone knew he was eating with his left hand. Now it's been some years since I live in those countries, so it is possible that some of them have adopted the British/American standard.
I first encountered squat toilets in Greece and was confused. Now they make perfect sense. It's the natural postion in which to have a dump.
Haha so funny when the toilet paper holder came off the wall.
If that bike was 2-stroke, the pork had a nice marinade.
Thanks Wilson! I am looking forward for the trip to China in October but not looking forward for that.
Yes, I am definitely going to take care all of my problems before any trip out in their public places.
When I returned from living in South America I almost knelt down and kissed the white porcelain toilet in the McDonalds at the Miami airport I was so happy to see it.
Wow. Where did you live in South America? Paraguai or somewhere like that?
Peru and Bolivia
TheLeatherChannel
Reminds me a bit of when I returned from the USA and the first thing I did at Frankfurt airport (after briefly checking out the water prices at a vending machine) was drinking bathroom tap water. After three months of dealing with chlorine smell, it felt like picnic at a spring.
😂😂😂😂😂
lol. I appreciate ur analytical way of describing the use of toilets :))
I've watched with interest as whilst in Chingpu (near Shanghai) I had a stomach bug and my whose from Sha took me to the medical centre in Chingpu garden city and the confusion would've left me thinking that staying away would've been better their treatment I received was very effective and going to hospital with a Chinese speaker is the way I'm from Meyerton near Vereeniging in Southern Transvaal keep awesome as I'm doing
your socks LOOOOOOLLLL
that killes me nice one man, been there done that
I was stationed in Korea and at 06:50 is what we called the kimchee squat.Difficult for a Westerner , but circumstances dictate a quick mastery of the technique.LOL!These types of public toilets are also found throughout the Arab world.
awww they look like birds squatting like that. : )
Thank you for the video. It was very informative.
First song was by Icehouse. Love it!
Very interesting. My wifes Aunt took a trip to China years ago and told us about the hole in the floor. Culture shock for sure.
Hahaha XD I lost it when you destroyed the toilet paper holder
Thanks for making this Video. It is not a nice Topic to talk about it is still necessary to talk about it. The toilet Situation is one of the main Things I am worrying about when coming to China next for for a couple of month to study Chinese. Thanks to your Video I know now what I have to expect.
"I wasn't really aware of this until..... I got here." Lol Definitely a reality check. Every time the car scenes cut in with the music, I see Vinnie in Snatch saying "I love this track."
Man, I love your videos. You are so enlightening and truly make me laugh, if I ever visit China we should have a beer together :-)
Squatting is more of a natural position when you're passing the number 2. Then, we got civilized and invented the toilet seats. It's both good and bad, pros: if you're a heavy set or an elderly and afraid if you squat and can't get up, the seats might be the best option or if you're lazy and you just want to sit. Cons: have you been to SOME of the public bathroom in the US or EU, emphasis on some, not all of them, but sometime I am afraid to even put my butt cheeks on those seats, I pretty much just hover over the seats. Squatting toilet eliminates the toilet seat dilemmas and you get your 5 min workout.
They should definitely work on water soluble tissues. I do like their flushing mechanism, most flushing mechanism in the US or EU uses the handle, where you suppose push or pull with you hand to flush. Some handles you can use you feet, but you still have lift you feet and press on the handle with an awkward pose. If only there was a picture for every time I use my feet to press the handle to flush. Most squatting toilet use the foot handle flush. Yay, no hands!
Although, most of the newer public bathroom in the US and EU, now uses the sensor flush toilet, some of them don't even have a handle anymore. Only bad thing is if the sensor got bad, it won't flush or it constantly flush while you're doing your business, and the splashing water on your behind. It's not that hard to block the sensor, a simple piece of black duck tape over the sensor would trick the toilet to thinking that a person sitting on the throne permanently so it won't flush until that person leaves.
In Hong Kong where i grew up we had a European style toilet for the ex pats and our Amor's (home help ) built on small apartment had the 'hole in the floor squat type'
After watching a lot of your videos I have no desire to go to China, I have taken it off my bucket list.
I gotta say that you have some major league balls for driving in China. I used to live in Beijing for a while and would have pissed my pants trying to get behind the wheel over there.
I also have trouble using the squat toilets. I first encountered them in the '90s in France - they were pretty common there then too (not sure about now). So, it's not just an Asian thing.
Also, I remember an Asian friend who was born/raised in the US, actually often squats when waiting since it is more comfortable than standing...so, I actually suspect there is something different about the Asian knee that makes it more comfortable than for westerners.
omg you destroyed me when you started talkiing about your socks. I lold so hard.
My aunt mentioned public bathhouses before and she lives in China so I would say yes, china has them as well. I'm pretty sure that china would have hot springs too. Also, I lived in a house-hotel in China before and it was pretty big (2 stories) and it included western toilets and bathtubs; it was really nice overall.hope this helps
Philippines has public toilets but most of them have no water, tissue paper or soap. Most toilets westerns are use to are in large hotels or malls.
Excellent video, again. Love the song, "Electric Blue" by Icehouse.
In Disneyland Shanghai they have signs in the toilet stalls saying specifically to flush TP. Also Pizza Hut and Starbucks have Western toilets.
Also in women's toilets you'll find urine that missed the bowl....
@Vladswell yeah, using squat toliets build up your calf muscles, and improves the precision of your aim :)
Yes, tissues a useful topic. Especially as i have hey fever and a cold. Yes, toilets are not that clean in Asia - and the smell is .... i did hear the squat toilets are better for health. Yes, a lot of the tissue paper can block the drains so they get you to use water and then drop paper in bin nearby. I used to go to expensive hotels for a ..... and also to just freshen up. Usually, they have hot water and toilet roll soap etc. Most times if you are a foreigner they do not realise you are not staying there. - Thanks.
In Thailand I took a trip from Bangkok to Changmai on a train and they had squatting toilets that were open that dropped on the train tracks and there was many people in shacks that lined the tracks closely.
In fact its good for human and healtheir to use it non of your skin will tuch the toilt just drop clean self and stand up
we also used it in our lifes in middleast
if it's that healthy, how is it that the countries where it's used have 2/3 the lifespan of the West?
TheLeatherChannel the rest areas on the auto bohn in Germany use squat holes it is probably more hygienic, it's just something you deal with
+TheLeatherChannel First, your question presupposes facts not in evidence, and for which you provide no citation. Second, even if it WERE true, the difference could be easily explained by the difference in availability and quality of health care. Using a squat toilet is indeed more sanitary than using the standard Western sit-down toilet, for the simple reason that one's buttocks (or any other body part) never actually touches the toilet, and it's healthier because it promotes more complete and natural bowel movement. Constipation and diarrhea are very rare in China (where I live now), but treatments for those are advertised constantly in the US.
William Allman constipation and diarrhea are the result of diet, not the position you're in when you eliminate. Squatting doesn't make a loose stool firm. By the time it's in position to exit no amount of squatting is going to change consistency. You made the statement with thought? Really?
Americans who have a proper diet don't have digestive problems, but judging by the quantity of anti-acids sold and diarrhea and constipation medications sold, few seem to know how to eat. THATS the problem, not whether you squat or not.
Billions of people sit on toilets without any outbreaks of disease. In fact, I'd say there are more outbreaks in countries where people squat, so toilets aren't the problem.
Now, supposing squatting does allow you more complete elimination, do you really believe there are consequences if it doesn't all come out? What would those be? Were you plagued with health issues before you moved to China?
You see, just trying to make statements about a topic using unrelated facts never works. I hope your work in China is not in the educational field because perhaps you should reconsider your line of work.
TheLeatherChannel I don't see anywhere in my comment where I said anything about squatting changing the consistency of one's stool, nor does my comment make any statement about the cause of diarrhea and constipation (although I know very well what causes them). Perhaps you should read it again, because your reply seems to indicate you didn't comprehend what I said in addition to throwing in more
The restroom at a bookstore in Seattle on Pike and 10th, is marked W/C.
I am surprised that they haven’t figured out that that you could use water to clean yourself in the restroom.
These be days in some parts of Europe, or in less developed countries, they use house like contractions or water pills and Spicket‘s like they do in India or some parts of the Middle East.
Great video that out. I guess if I go to China, I always have a tissue/as well as some wet wipes or baby wipes.
I live in Belgium and we use wc here all the time, never thought about it twice.
every time see you have some bbq makes me wanna go downstairs to get some as well and a bottle of beer
"So you thought you were safe? Did you?"Hahaha XD
Electric Blue.... Awesome -- Love Icehouse.
W.C. Water Closet is the correct definition of a Toilet Pedestal Pan which has an "S" Trap below it. Its terminology is used by Builders and in Architectural Drawings to this day. The "Squat Toilet" was commonly known in S-E Asia as a Siamese Toilet. Common in Burma too for native people who prefer to squat. Furthermore, the Squat Toilet come in two types. With & Without the "S" Trap and or Flush Tank plumbed to it. The human anatomy lends itself to squat-excretion easier and once accustomed to squatting for No.2, one cannot poo seated on a European Toilet Pan. The body's anatomy will NOT co-operate. As I grew older I had to resort to being seated upon the W.C. Commode (seat) and Raise my Left Foot on a small stool on the floor to have pressure on the lower descending cologn. Q.E.D.
In this content China has some similarities to Western Europe... Here there are also bins and we can't flush tissues down the toilet, there's always a warning sign not to flush it. Plus, here we use the word WC as well. I remember when I was younger, about 10 years ago, squat toilets were quite common as well, especially in rest stops. Now it's rare to find those.
In France you still sometimes find these. But they are being rapidly replaced.
Great, great videos.I like to add little about the squatting toilets. Hey, did anybody here went ever hiking? That's how you do it in the nature and it is a very healthy way to finish you food passage. You colon is in the better ankle to empty completely when you squat. Sitting toilets doesn't allowed that and that is a one more reason why there is so much colon cancer in western countries - with all the science behind it.Just google "squatty potty" and find out why they are a big hit in USA health conscious population !!!
I`m from Northeast China, the facts are :
1. From 2011-2013, people began to realize that some of restaurants didn`t offer free tissues no more, we were just as surprised as you are, but after 2014, things fall back to normal again.
2. Almost every public toilet stinks all over China, except for those in Government facilities and high class shopping malls which they have dedicated cleaners standing by all the time to clean up the "shit" , same rule goes to toilet tissue/paper.
Great soundtrack!
I just finished a plumbing course in London, UK in 2014.
Judging by the reaction to the hygiene situation by foreigners living in Chinas multicultural cities.Toilets, sanitation public plumbing infrastructure
seems like a fairly untapped area. Given most people would be coming over from villages and never even been challenged with western style hygiene,toilets,sanitation,plumbing
I would expect a sort of natural reeducation reevaluation and thereafter demand to take place as exposure slowly takes place for most Chines people in the coming decades.
How do locals who know of wests hygiene,sanitary etc feel about this?
I don't know why but it was absolutely hilarious when you knocked over the toilet paper cover in the McDonalds bathroom. Probably because it was simply unexpected.
Lol I was at Pizza Hutt in Shanghai and I was asking the lady if they had a bathroom, trying to say it in Mandarin. She replys "WC!? WC!?" I wasn't sure what she meant at the time, found it quite funny afterwards.
Another interesting thing to note is that it's been proving that squatting is a far more biologically natural posture for that, our up-right toilets may be comfortable but that doesn't necessarily make them better.
Squat toilets will save you from germs! That's hygienic!
THATS what toilet seat covers are for
Are you the only person that uses the seat covers? The seat covers get germs each time someone sits on it.
Junaid S. seat covers are, one time use, and disposable
Toilet paper in a bin.. not so much
Junaid S. You're a sick animal.
haha reverse mind_blow for me as a chinese. squatting is rest for me. my 81 y. o. grandpa squats in the yard and listens to the radio all day. if i get too tired for standing too long (for instance taking a super long subway ride) i would go squat in a toilet for a while, just to rest my legs.. i live on school campus with quat toilets, and every time i get back home i get a little constipated in the sitting position...before i met any westerners, it never occurred to me that squatting can be a weird and hard movement.. and honestly even when i travel to places with seat toilets i get a little icky to touch the seat with my butt... i always just half_sit and leave an inch of space between my butt and the seat.
You'll find the squat toilets in some of the more rural parts of france still, especially out of the way services. Hate to say it, but they are just plain more hygenic...
The reason for the tissues into a bin, is unless its a certain type of paper, the bleach in it kills the enzymes which eat the waste in septic tank systems. I'd imagine that a lot of places aren't on mainline sewerage systems, this keeps their septic tank bugs alive and healthy so they do the job properly. No shame in that.
WC is also used by builders and architects. I use that a lot bcoz I am in construction
When I was there I used the squatter toilets a few times. I had to hold the bottom of the door (if it had one) to keep steady haha
+Sam Baker LOL, you guys are really funny.
4:40 Electric Blue - I love that song!
a tip: if you are going to some not-so-safe places, use tissue bag as wallet for some cash and ID.
Cant help but want more of these. But I have to ask at this point, Serpentza. Is it just a radio station you have of 80s music, mp3s playing or what ? lol Cause if it is a radio station, it makes moving there all the better next year.