Beijing will spend 240 million yuan (US$30 million) in the next two years on facelift of its totaling 747 public toilets in 148 scenic spots and sightseeing places, Beijing Youth Daily reported.

The project was expected to largely improve the cityscape and provide convenience and comfort to tourists and thus to further develop its tourism industry, vice mayor Zhang Mao said yesterday.

According to the plan, 64 out of the 747 toilets will reach a level of four-star and 197 will be three-star. Some 298 will be two-star and the rest 118 one-star.

Thus all the toilets will be more than 40 square meters in area. Plants and special ways for the disabled will be added to all. In four-star ones, gyms, movies, music, flowers and other facilities will be equipped.

In addition, it will build 70 new environmental-friendly toilets and install 2 movable toilets in the Tiananmen Square.

About half of the project will be finished this year, including 20 environmental-friendly ones.

(Eastday.com 03/21/2001)