When nature calls, you must answer. But what should you do if you are out on the streets of Beijing, where even locals complain that public toilets are few and far between?

Visitors may find it wise to flag down a cab as soon as possible to take them back to their hotel, unless they can see a McDonald's or KFC around the corner. Although the municipal government has asked thousands of commercial buildings to open their toilets to the public, many don't have signs outside and, in some places, you may not find yourself welcome unless you are buying something.

And remember: the toilet paper dispenser will most likely be empty at all places except luxury hotels.

The good news is that Beijing is planning to introduce a state-of-the-art system to guide people to the 5,000-plus public toilets downtown as part of its efforts to prepare for the 2008 Olympic Games.

As of next August, those who want to answer the call of nature but cannot find a public toilet will be able to help themselves by:

Calling an automatic telephone service that explains where the closest public lavatories are, in both Chinese and English;

Looking for a toilet in the streets of Beijing has been easier, thanks to many efforts the municipal government has made. [Wang Wei]

Sending a short message that prompts a quick reply to the sender's cell phone;

Checking out the locations on the Internet;

Inquiring at street-side information kiosks.

The city plans to make public toilets available within a five-minute walk of any downtown location, or 300-500 m from one another in busy districts and 500-1,000 m apart in other areas. Road signs will be put up at major tourist attractions, shopping malls, sports facilities and other public areas for clearer access.

During the recent celebrations for the one-year countdown celebrations to the opening of the Games next year, Beijing impressed the world with its determination to make sure that everything goes smoothly. There is little doubt more toilets will be built and their whereabouts made known before hordes of international visitors arrive.

The more pressing challenge seems to be how to manage these public facilities.

Currently, many public toilets are not kept clean and dry at all times. Local researchers have attributed the malodorous smells in some toilets to poor ventilation, and the lack or inappropriate use of deodorization products.

The overwhelming majority of residents prefer hole-in-the-ground toilets, which account for 80 percent of all public lavatories, because they think it is too dirty there to use Western commodes.

Despite the problems, some public toilets have tried to turn their personal business into commercial ventures. The city has just banned owners from selling food and drinks or advertising spaces so they will concentrate on improving their services as bona fide public facilities.

Perhaps it is also time to make it a legal requirement for operators to provide basic toilet amenities, including toilet paper and liquid soap, and to keep toilets well ventilated. Toilet cleaners and supervisors should also receive proper training and follow a more frequent schedule to keep them properly maintained.

Olympic toilet standards and technology can also be introduced. For example, at the venues, water-conserving equipment is being installed in washrooms and bathrooms, with the hand basins and toilets equipped with inductive flush valves to avoid wasting water.

All these will involve significant government financing and support, at a time when some public toilet operators are already complaining about fund shortages. Yet the project remains a worthy cause.

Just as the slogan on the walls of many local men's restrooms reads: One small step forward, one giant leap for civilization. The same can be said of the overall improvements to the city's toilets.

Email: yuanzhou@chinadaily.com.cn