ita

I have heard much discussion about the difficulty N.A. women have using public toilets in China. Any advice or squating exercises?

wanderlust5

A couple of suggestions: you can buy these paper cone things for the "squate" toilets, from magellan's. It is really difficult to use a squat toilet with any grace at all, and yes - you can build up your thigh muscles before you go by doing leg presses. For those of us with dodgy knees, squat toilets are a nightmare. But I survived China, and you will as well, and there are many places that will have one western toilet, if you are in a large city. Most of the villages and remote areas, however, will not have those facilities. Also, make sure to take wet wipes, purell and those small packs of kleenex. There is rarely ever TP in any of the facilities.

Marija

If you are sticking to the main tourist cities, with a little planning you may avoid squat toilets. Facilities are rapidly being upgraded, especially in the tourist spots. There are many chain hotels and they usually have Western facilities, as do airports.

KimJapan

I have no trouble using them, and actually prefer them in places where it is not clean...you don't touch anything.

Hints.
Face the flusher and urinal-like part.
If you are wearing pants, pull up the ankles so they don't touch the floor...kind of bunch the waist and ankles together and hold onto them.
Scoot more forward than you think you need to.
Flush with your foot.
Carry tissues.
Watch your feet - it's better to space them wider apart than you think you need to in case you "miss."
Keep a sense of humor.

beaker

You really don't have to squat so far down on your honches as you might think. Try it at home before you leave to find the right angle.

I saw a sign on a western toilet in China that read "Please not to stand on the apparatus"....so everyone has to get used to new approaches.

BillT

We are likely to be headed for China in another year or so and I am going to have to do some careful planning here with regards to these toilet issues. The wife will not (and I don't blame her) use squat toilets. So basically we need to be away from the hotel (5 star of course) for no more than 4-5 hours so that she can return and use the hotel facilites. To most maybe this is a non issue but believe me this is a big issue in my world!

offwego

Hmm

I actually learned to use squat toilets in Italy. But I had the luxury of someone showing me how. Was taught to "back up to them", pull your pants down to your knees, grab them and pull them forward which not only gets them out of the way but creates a natural balance point. There's not really that much "squatting" required. It's pretty easy in fact and like Kim says, you don't have to touch anything.

The proper position is quite hard to describe.

GillandTony

Haven't we already had this conversation in detail on Fodor's?

For the ladies who go to Japan only
11 responses; most recent on 01/18/2006, 04:51 pm

The article from Wikepedia is most enlightening!

Gill.

eli22

Well,I haven't been in China but I broached the subject on another travel forum and the best advice they gave me is to use toilets in restaurants esp. those of the western style where you will meet the known facilities we westerners are used to .