The Happy House

Our guide in Chengdu informed us we'd be making stops at the "Happy House" en-route to Wolong. Quite how the Chinese came up with the name "Happy House" for their toilets is quite beyond me, traditional Chinese toilets certainly aren't happy. The odour is unbearable; the excrement on the floor is vomit inducing and as for the method required to make use of these… certainly not designed for the western visitor. For those with a strong stomach, Brian Sack shares his experiences.

My advice is to avoid the Happy House and make use of facilities at your hotel, which should be clean and more in tune with our western tastes, for those who can't wait, be advised that the Happy House is sometimes quite communal and lacks doors. Also be sure to bring your own toilet roll!