China introduces toilet timers at UNESCO World Heritage site
- Yungang Grottoes in China has installed toilet timers in the women's restroom.
- The timers are intended to manage the increasing number of visitors to the UNESCO World Heritage site.
- This move aims to improve the visitor experience and facilities at the historical site.
A popular Unesco world heritage site in China, the Yungang Grottoes, has installed timers in the restrooms to show the duration a toilet cubicle has been in use. The timers were implemented to manage the increasing number of visitors and not to control the time spent in the bathroom. Some visitors found the timers embarrassing, feeling like they were being monitored. Critics questioned the need for timers at a tourist site and suggested the money could have been better spent on building more toilets. The staff clarified that the timers were for the well-being of guests in case of emergencies and not to limit bathroom usage. This move has sparked debate and comparisons to a previous incident in 2020 when a tech firm in Beijing faced backlash for installing similar timers in office bathrooms.