"In the early 1990s, foreign tourists refused to use toilets in some of the tourism spots in Shaanxi and they had to wait until they were back at their hotel to relieve themselves," a provincial tourism bureau official said.

The province will construct 60 high-quality bathrooms by October 1, the National Day, and a peak tourism period, according to a source at the Shaanxi Tourism Administration Bureau.

Seven of the restrooms will be built to the five-star hotel standard, 19 to four-star hotel level and 34 at the three-star hotel level.

"The project is under construction in 51 tourism spots over the province and they will greatly better the conditions and service for visitors," the bureau official said.

Shaanxi, often called a natural ancient museum, has thousands of ancient ruins, buildings and imperial tombs including the world-renowned Qin Terra-cotta Warriors.

Since the country's reform started in the early 1980s, Shaanxi witnessed a great improvement in the construction of hotels, restaurants, entertainment venues and other service facilities for tourists, the official said.

(China Daily August 23, 2002)