Recently, a large number of foreign tourists have flocked to China, who are deeply attracted by China's long history and culture, magnificent natural scenery, fast-growing modern cities and warm and friendly people, and many have expressed a strong interest in Chinese culture and admiration for China's rapid development. There is a great sense of joy and homesickness.
What makes some foreigners especially bad is that the toilets in China's subway stations and public places are not only well-equipped, but also very clean and free. They were very surprised and pleasantly surprised by this, because it was in stark contrast to their previous experience of lack or poor conditions in metro stations in other countries, especially in some Western countries.
As an important part of urban infrastructure, public toilets have always reflected the level of civilization and public services of a country and region.
But some foreigners say finding a clean and convenient toilet in a subway station in their hometown is an "impossible task". Although there are some free toilets in Europe, public toilets are also widely charged, ranging from 0.3 to 2 euros, equivalent to 2 yuan to 15 yuan, depending on the region, the condition of the facilities and the quality of service.
In China, all this has become so simple and natural, as if every city has silently cared for and cared for every passenger. People are accustomed to clean and tidy public toilets, good sanitation and perfect facilities provide convenience and comfort to people, and it is rare to hear that there are now paid public toilets.
However, the world seems to be undergoing a great reversal, and Europe, once known for its civilization, is synonymous with elegance, civilization and sophistication. However, some Chinese who have gone abroad have experienced a lot of "incredible" (in order not to affect the reading perception, this article is only accompanied by a few normal pictures).
For example, on the streets of many European countries, open-air toilets, stains, garbage and pungent smells have become a sight to ignore. In particular, the open-air toilet is so simple that it allows women to urinate standing up, which makes people feel uncomfortable, which has triggered the Chinese people's in-depth thinking about the development of European society.
For tourists, the attraction of a country and city lies not only in its history, culture and natural beauty, but also in the quality of infrastructure and public services.
The problem of public toilets in Europe is not only a health problem, but also a social problem and even an international problem.
If tourists are bothered by not being able to find a clean and comfortable toilet on the streets of Europe, it will undoubtedly reduce their favorability of the place, which in turn will affect the local tourism industry and the impression of these countries and cities.
If the toilets are not good, what civilization is there?
As we all know, in medieval Europe, due to the lack of sanitation and drainage facilities, the streets of towns became a source of stench. There were no fixed public toilets, and open defecation became a common habit, with both nobles and commoners participating. This habit has led to feces littering the streets and alleys with a stinking stench.
It was not until the 19th century that this situation began to gradually change, mainly due to the cholera epidemic in Europe in 1832, which forced public health reform.
This "retro" trend in Europe now is really embarrassing. But the current situation is that as long as you are not embarrassed, it will always be others who are embarrassed.
With the current state of public toilets in Europe, a comprehensive and in-depth "toilet revolution" is imperative.
This will require not only the active actions of European governments, but also the concerted efforts of citizens. Only in this way will Europe be able to regain its image as a basic civilization of its time and provide a more comfortable environment for Europeans and visitors from all over the world.
Let's wait and see! The images and related materials in this article are from the Internet
Xie Xiaowen: Strategic scholar. He mainly commented on current politics, business, railways, and culture. WeChat public account: zgmjply (commentator Xie Xiaowen)