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Chinese capital Beijing will open part of its toll toilets to citizens and tourists beginning March 1, the Beijing Daily reported recently.

The decree will apply to public toilets of category II or above,which are required to have closed partitions, hand washing and drying facilities and mirrors.

It is estimated that such toilets account for 10 percent of the 4,731 public toilets in the eight urban districts of Beijing.

The maintenance of these toilets will be financed by the government after the toll is canceled. Local officials said the city will upgrade 200 public toilets to category II or above this year.

By 2006, the number of public toilets in Beijing will be reduced to 2,700, but they will all conform to category II standard at least, officials sources said.

To offer enough clean and decent toilets to citizens and tourists has been a long-time challenge for the local government, especially as the city prepares for hosting the 2008 Olympic Games.

To make up for the scarcity of public toilets, the government has ordered hotels and restaurants to open their toilets to the public free of charge.