Video shared on Chinese news sites and social media shows multiple timers installed above each women's restroom. When the room is empty, the LED screen will display the word "empty" in green. If used, it will show the number of minutes and seconds the door has been locked.
Explaining this, a staff member at the tourist site said that the clock was installed to accommodate the increasing number of visitors to the site and they did not intend to control the time visitors spent in the toilet. The stopwatch will remind visitors to use water sparingly and avoid waste. The use of the stopwatch shows the concern of the tourist site management board for environmental protection and promoting civilized tourism.
The timers were installed on May 1 this year and are primarily a safety measure to ensure the health of all guests, warn some guests who use the restroom for long periods of time, and provide "emergency" assistance to other guests.
Video of a series of timers installed on toilets at the Yungang Grottoes tourist area is going viral.
Some netizens support the installation of timers in public restrooms, complaining that many tourists spend too much time surfing the web. However, others say it is an invasion of privacy, asking: "Why don't the management spend money on building more restrooms instead of installing timers?"
This debate shows the diversity of public views on solutions to manage public toilet usage time, while also raising questions about investment priorities and protecting personal privacy.
The timer above the restroom counter at the tourist area
Recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2001, the Yungang Grottoes are one of the most popular tourist attractions in Shanxi Province, China. In 2023, this famous scenic spot welcomed 3 million visitors, a record high compared to 2019 with 1.98 million visitors.
