Quick answer
Squat toilets are still the default at train stations, parks, markets, older restaurants, and scenic areas, while malls, airports, hotels, and newer venues have sit-down toilets. The skills involved are small: face the hooded end, keep tissue in your pocket, and expect the used paper to go in the bin rather than the bowl. I have used both styles across 20+ Chinese cities since 2022, and this guide covers everything that surprises first-time visitors.
Why this matters in 2026
China's "toilet revolution" has upgraded millions of public restrooms since 2015, and major tourist sites now have clean, attended facilities. But squatting remains the norm outside commercial spaces, and the practical details — no paper provided, bin instead of flush for used paper, finding the one Western stall in a mall — are exactly what no one tells you before arrival. Five minutes of preparation removes the most common daily friction of China travel.
Key facts at a glance
- Where squats are standard: railway stations, parks, highway rest stops, markets, older restaurants, scenic-area blocks
- Where sit-down is common: shopping malls, airports, hotels, office towers, newer attractions
- Toilet paper: rarely provided — carry a pocket pack at all times
- Used paper: usually into the bin, not the bowl; modern mall plumbing flushes it fine, but the bin habit persists
- Signage: 厕所 (cèsuǒ) or 卫生间 (wèishēngjiān); public toilets in cities are free
Step-by-step walkthrough
Step 1: Read the fixture
A Chinese squat is a ceramic pan set into the floor, with two footpads and a raised hooded end. Face the hood. Your heels go on the pads, feet about shoulder-width apart.
Step 2: Position and go
Heels flat, weight centered, knees bent fully — a deep, stable squat rather than a hover. Balance comes quickly; the deep squat is the everyday posture for hundreds of millions of people.
Step 3: Manage the paper
Tissue comes from your pocket, not from a dispenser. Use it, then put it in the bin beside you unless the stall clearly signals flushing is fine. Older plumbing is the reason for the bin convention.
Step 4: Flush
Handle, button, or in older facilities a bucket and tap (手动冲水). If there is a bin lid, close it. Leave the floor dry enough that the next person does not inherit your puddle.
Step 5: Wash and sanitize
Soap is uncommon; carry a small sanitizer. Many facilities have sinks but nothing to dry with — the packet of tissue works there too.
Step 6: Find a Western toilet when you need one
In a mall, head for the floor with the food court or the cinema; in a pinch, walk into a mid-range hotel lobby like you belong there. The accessible stall (无障碍卫生间) is always a Western toilet and usually the roomiest option.
Common scenarios and use cases
1. At a railway station
Free, busy, squat-dominant, and staffed by attendants. Go before boarding, not after the queue builds; the cleanest hours are right after a cleaning shift, signaled by a wet mop.
2. On trains
High-speed trains have both squat and sit-down toilets at the ends of each car. Older K/T trains on slow routes are squat-only. Avoid the ten minutes around station arrivals when everyone queues.
3. In shopping malls
The best public option in any city: attendants, paper at the attendant's desk, sit-down stalls, and baby rooms. The food-court floor is usually the busiest but best stocked.
4. At a small restaurant
Expect a squat down a corridor or in the courtyard, shared and basic. If that is a problem, use the mall you passed two blocks earlier — planning the mall stop is a normal local strategy.
Costs and pricing breakdown
- Public toilet, city: free almost everywhere
- Attended toilets in older districts: occasionally CNY 1–2
- Pocket tissue packs: CNY 1–3 at any convenience store
- Travel sanitizer: CNY 10–20
- Hotel room: always Western, always stocked
- Scenic-area toilets: free; quality varies with visitor volume
Pitfalls to avoid
- Assuming paper is provided: it usually is not. The pocket pack is the difference between comfort and a problem.
- Flushing paper where a bin is provided: older drains clog; follow the bin convention unless a sign says otherwise.
- Waiting until you are desperate: queues at major sights move slowly. Use the mall-and-museum pattern instead of the last-minute dash.
- Wearing your best shoes: floors are often wet. Shoes you can rinse matter more than shoes that look good.
- Entering without checking the latch: doors swing outward and latches vary; a two-second check spares an awkward moment.
Alternatives and trade-offs
- The mall strategy: when out all day, plan restroom breaks around malls rather than street facilities; cleaner, seated, air-conditioned.
- The hotel strategy: before a long metro ride, use the hotel lobby; on arrival, do the same at your next hotel before checking out of the old one.
- Apps: Amap (高德) and Baidu Maps both search 厕所 nearby and rate them; the 找厕所 feature is a genuine traveler tool.
- The accessible stall: 无障碍卫生间 gives you a Western toilet, a door that locks, and space for luggage — ideal right off a night train.
Local context and customs
Squatting is simply the older, contact-free style — many locals prefer it and consider seated toilets less hygienic. Attendants keep larger facilities in order and hang a sign with cleaning times. The national toilet-revolution campaigns have visibly improved things: expect better signage, handrails for the elderly, and third-family rooms at major sights. Nobody will comment on how you use the facilities; the only real etiquette is keeping the floor dry and the queue moving.
Verifying current information
Facilities change with renovations. Confirm the latest through:
- Amap / Baidu Maps: nearby-toilet search with distance and ratings
- Scenic-area signage: major parks list toilet locations on their WeChat mini-programs
- Your hotel front desk: they know the cleanest public options within two blocks
- Station staff: point you to the attended side during peak crowds
- China Travel Daily life forums: current reports per city
Putting it all together
The pocket kit decides everything: tissue, sanitizer, and a plastic bag for the phone. Face the hood, bin the paper, plan around malls, and use the accessible stall for comfort. In my experience the fear fades on day two — squats are easier than they look, and knowing the mall-and-station rhythm means you are never more than ten minutes from a clean, sit-down option in any Chinese city.
FAQ
Are all toilets in China squats?
No. Malls, airports, hotels, and new attractions are mostly sit-down; stations, parks, and older venues lean squat. Larger facilities usually have at least one Western stall.
Is toilet paper really not provided?
Usually not. Bring a pocket pack; buy more at any convenience store (纸巾, zhǐjīn).
Where does the used paper go?
Into the bin next to you in most places — older plumbing cannot handle it. Modern mall toilets often flush it fine; follow the signage.
Are public toilets free?
In cities, yes, almost universally. A few attended facilities in old districts charge CNY 1–2.
Which trains have Western toilets?
High-speed trains (G/D) have both styles in each car. Older slow trains are squat-only.
How do I ask where the toilet is?
洗手间在哪里？ (xǐshǒujiān zài nǎlǐ?, "Where is the restroom?") works everywhere; showing the characters works even better.
Are they clean?
It varies: mall and airport toilets are well kept, station toilets are functional, park toilets vary with traffic. Attended facilities are almost always the better bet.