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Largest public restroom from China set world record
[July
12] BEIJING --They're flush with pride in Chongqing, where a recently
opened porcelain palace features an Egyptian facade, soothing music
and more than 1,000 toilets spread out over 30,000 square feet.
"We are spreading toilet culture. People can listen
to gentle music and watch TV," said Lu Xiaoqing, an official with
the Yangrenjie, or "Foreigners Street," tourist area where the bathroom
is located. "After they use the bathroom they will be very, very
happy."
 Photo:
Chinese visit a four-story, free-of-charge public restroom
in Chongqing, China Saturday July 7, 2007. (AP Photo)
Officials
in the southwestern Chinese city plan to ask Guinness World Records
to have the free four-story public bathroom listed as the world's
largest, state-run China Central Television reported Friday.
World Record Academy, the
leading international organization which verify and certify new
world records, has already certified this record as a world record.
It will be included in our 2008 edition of the Book of World Records and Chinese officials can get their
Certificate for this new World Record.
"We are spreading toilet culture. People can
listen to gentle music and watch TV," said Lu Xiaoqing, an official
with the Yangrenjie, or "Foreigners Street," tourist area where
the bathroom is located. "After they use the bathroom they will
be very, very happy." 
Footage aired on CCTV showed people milling about
the sprawling facility and washing their hands at trough sinks.
For open-aired relief, there's a cluster of stalls without a roof.
Some urinals are uniquely shaped, including ones inside
open crocodile mouths and several topped by the bust of a woman
resembling the Virgin Mary.
"Other bathrooms are all the same. This one is
very special, I've never seen anything like it," one visitor to
the tourist area told CCTV.
There are also plans to build a supermarket nearby,
which will sell toilet-related items, CCTV reported.
Video:
CNN
video: Largest public restroom in China
Photo Gallery:
Largest
public restroom in China photos
Sources: CCTV, CNN, ABC, AP, www.chinaview.cn
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