In Yungang, in northern China, the large Buddha statue overlooking the site seems to watch over the visitors. But recently, tourists have been feeling like they are being watched not because of the imposing sculpture. A set of timers has been installed above a row of public toilets, as reported by CNN. This is one of China’s most famous sites, classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. These are the Buddhist caves of Yungang, near Datong, in the Shanxi province. The views are spectacular: 51,000 statues carved about 1,500 years ago in 252 caves. But in recent days, it is the toilets at the site that have been in the spotlight.
A video circulating on Chinese social media shows that each cabin is equipped with its own digital counter. When one of them is unoccupied, a pixelated LED panel displays the word “free” in green. However, if the cabin is in use, the screen accurately shows the number of minutes and seconds the door has been locked for.
Security Measure
The Xiaoxiang Morning Herald, a local state-run newspaper, reportedly received the original video from a visitor. “I found it to be quite advanced technology because there is no need to wait outside or knock on the toilet door,” said the tourist quoted by the media. “But I also found it a bit embarrassing. I felt like I was being watched,” he added. A staff member of the Yungang caves, quoted by the Chinese newspaper, assures that the timers were installed to deal with the increasing number of visitors to the attraction. “They are not there to control the duration of cabin use. It is impossible for us to monitor the time spent in the toilets. We do not set a time limit.”
According to another state newspaper, the Nanchang Evening News, this system has been in operation since May 1 of this year. A staff member, quoted by the press, stated that it is primarily a safety measure to “ensure the well-being of all visitors, in case some of them use the toilets for an extended period and an emergency situation occurs.”
The news has sparked numerous debates on Chinese social media. On Weibo, a popular microblogging platform, users have expressed satisfaction with these new timers, believing that they would discourage visitors from sitting and staying on their cell phones while in the toilets. Some believe it would even help people with real medical emergencies who cannot call for help. Others, however, are outraged: “Why not just spend this money to build more toilets?” another user expressed.
However, the Yungang caves have indeed seen a considerable increase in the number of tourists. The scenic area received 3 million visitors in 2023, a record for the tourist site and a significant increase compared to its second busiest year (2019, with 1.98 million visits).
