China

We had a fantastic China tour ten years ago, Rosiebee, and I would definitely say go if you can. But yes, we had to use the squatty toilets at some places and I have to say they were horrible! However, things in China are changing so quickly that that may no longer be the case. When we were there they were getting ready for the Olympics and new buildings and facilities were springing up all over the place. When we went to see the Terracotta Warriors our guide warned us that the included meal would be very basic and rustic as the catering was run by simple country folk. When we got there we found a veritable banquet in a modern restaurant! His comment was that China was changing very fast. A good tour company should be able to advise you. We went with Archers, and I would definitely recommend them.

Well at least they must have cleaned the loos up since we went, Cari! I didn’t want to be too offputting, but in 2007 the hole in the ground would be ringed with globules of spit, that made them both smelly and slippery. As we left, because of the Olympics coming up, they were launching a big public information drive to try to stop the Chinese spitting all over the place. Must have worked!

I've twice been to China and love it. I don't have a problem with squat loos - I find them better in some places as at least you don't touch anything!

Anywhere we went to had both types but there was a longer queue for the Western-style ones.

My favourite bit was the Yangtze cruise. Even though our guide led our little party down the huge flight of steps to the riverside (one lady took the option of being carried down in a type of sedan chair), onto a very swish vessel - then straight across its deck to the much more modest riverboat berthed behind it!

We are just back from China. We went with Saga so you would have expected them to have taken this issue into account as their customers are older. Generally places had both types of toilet but in one place the sitting toilet was out of order so the ladies helped each other to squat and get up. Modesty was forgotten! I am very lucky to not have any problem using the squat loos but I can see that it would have to be a consideration before booking a holiday.

My first visit was in 1990, squat loos of course but no bar to hang on to, but I was fit then.

Loo had a hole at the back where the shit scooper removed the excess for the fields. They wiped their hands on the walls!

One place we visited on a 3 day journey across the Taklamakan desert there was a loo stop. We, 2 girls, were escorted to the lavs by an old man who spoke perfect english, he had been a university professor and was being re educated by sending to the country! Mao's edict.

Rosiebee
Definitely go. My favourite part was the cruise on the Yangtze. That was AMAZING.
What surprised me was, the Chinese were very surprised at how much we knew about their country.
This was a conversation I had with an assistant in a shop on the cruise liner.
"This is chairman Mao"
Yes, I know it's Mao"
"You know"?
"Yes, the whole world knows its chairman Mao"
Now she has a very confused look on her face.
"The whole world know chairman Mao"?
I picked up a very nasty germ while I was there and had to spent 24 hrs in hospital ( on my birthday)
The service was 5 star.
I have to say, though, that by the end I was 'templed out'

I haven't been to China but have encountered squatting loos in other locations.
The most recent was in Changhi at a busy time - there were three cubicles and one squatting loo and a longish queue of ladies!
With a mix of gestures and sign language we established that none of us (a British woman, several young Scandinavian backpackers, a French woman and, I think, an Italian mother and child) was willing to try the squatting loo. In came two Chinese ladies, one old, one younger, looking puzzled that none of us was going in there - more gestures and smiles and in they went together.

Sorry - Changi
(not Shanghai!)

Our guide explained that the Chinese would much rather squat with the door open as they think that sitting on a seat or using a flush or a door handle that has been touched by so many others is very unhygienic. Many toilets didn't have washing facilities as they didn't think them necessary, not having touched any surfaces. The hoiking and spitting was seen as more hygienic than our blowing our noses and coughing into tissues. A totally different culture.

If you are unable to squat as opposed to don't like to squat then I can't see anything round this problem.
The worst thing would be if you managed to get down and couldn't get back up.
Try practising at home getting down and pushing off your knees to get back up.
Sorry it's the only thing I can suggest.

Hmm yes if I get down then to get up again I have to go on all fours first so I can see this would be very difficult in a cramped space. I think I'd better not go to China.

I found that the main tourist areas had western loos as well as squat ones. Off the beaten track it was mostly squat but if you are doing Bejing and the terracotta warriors you shouldn't have any problems. I went in January. No crowds anywhere.

I’ve been to China twice and love it. But personal space is a concept alien to most of the general population. The up side is that there’s no need to be embarrassed as no one else will be and anyway you’ll never see them again. The downside is that squat loos are the norm outside hotels, big tourist sites and city restaurants, and where there is a western one the squat one is often preferable. I can’t squat down due to arthritis, but have learnt to ‘sit’ on an imaginary loo, leaning well forward to balance in the same way as you would when taken short in a UK grotty public loo of the ‘hover only and don’t touch a thing’ sort. Also make sure everything you’re carrying is slung suspended around your neck and not going to fall from pockets. You don’t want to loose anything down the hole!

Don’t let it stop you missing a wonderful experience, chances are you’ll be fine if you’re just doing the main tourist hot spots. Saga and Titan generally make sure they stop where facilities are good as they know the limitations of their clientele!

Hand washing facilities are rare so take some hand wash gel. You may also want to keep a tissue with you - if it is provided you sometimes have to pay for it or collect it from a dispenser before you go in the cubicle. Don't take anything into the cubicle with you that you may have to remove (ie handbag) as there is usually no where to put it other than the floor and you really wouldn't want to put it there ! MacDonalds usually have reasonable loos and you can just go in and use them - not sure if the staff mind or not but we do it anyway with no problems. The loos just outside The Forbidden City are pretty good. The posh (think Gucci etc) shopping malls have superb loos and are free to use. I would suggest you familerise yourself with the sign for 'ladies' - it does look a bit like someone with crossed legs ! Might save a bit of embarrassment.
A few years ago I needed the loo in The Summer Palace, found one (by following the smell), took one look and found a bush instead. Things have improved considerably since the Olympics - especially the spitting.

Time to do some more pelvic floor excercises !

Some tips for using a squat loo...first if you can wear a skirt, so much easier, failing that take off your trousers so you don’t wee on them by mistake. If doing a wee you can just stand over the loo and go. You don’t have to squat right down, just a little and stick your bum out! Always carry toilet paper. Spend 4 months of the year in SE Asia and have got use to the squats. Worth noting in some Asian countries, Thailand and Laos older people get priority for the loo, so no waiting.

I wear baggy trousers or hike trousers that can be rolled up before you go in the loos. Never mastered standing up, I just semi-squat!