Portable Toilets for Self-Driving in Northern Xinjiang

The following are the situations and suggestions regarding portable toilets during self-driving tours in Northern Xinjiang:

I. Emergency Solutions for Remote Road Sections

On remote roads such as the Duku Highway, national and provincial highways, public restrooms are sparsely distributed, and some sections even lack facilities. Portable toilets (such as car-mounted toilets or foldable toilets) can serve as emergency tools. Using them with degradable bags can reduce odors and make cleaning easier. Additionally, foldable single-person changing tents can provide temporary privacy spaces, suitable for use with portable toilets or for digging holes for defecation in wild environments.

II. Significant Differences in Restrooms in Scenic Spots

1. High-Quality Facilities: In 5A-level scenic spots like Sayram Lake, public restrooms include mobile toilets and regular toilets, with relatively good cleanliness, but they are unisex. In newly built intelligent public restrooms in scenic spots like Nalati in Yili, there are sensor faucets and constant-temperature hand-washing stations, with a clean and odor-free environment.
2. Problematic Facilities: The public restrooms at Qiaxi Campground have issues such as water leakage and odors, and are only briefly usable after daily cleaning. The dry toilets at Arxian Hot Spring and Anjihai Grand Canyon have extremely poor sanitary conditions. The former has a strong stench, while the latter requires a fee and has dilapidated facilities, with overflowing pits, swarms of flies, and slippery floors being common.

III. Official Construction Progress and Plans

Xinjiang continues to promote the upgrading of tourist restrooms. As of 2026, there are already 4,335 tourist restrooms across the region, with plans to build 188 new fixed restrooms and 47 new mobile restrooms. Standardized service stations have been planned along routes such as the Ahe Highway, equipped with sewage suction trucks and cleaning teams, which will further improve restroom conditions in the future.

IV. Practical Suggestions

1. Material Preparation: Carry portable toilets, foldable tents, degradable bags, and disinfectant wipes to cope with road sections without restrooms. Bring your own protective items such as masks and hand sanitizers to reduce the risk of contact contamination.
2. Route Planning: Prioritize highway service areas, newly built scenic spots (such as Nalati), or upgraded tourist restrooms. Avoid areas with concentrated dry toilets (such as Arxian Hot Spring and Anjihai Grand Canyon), or find out their opening hours in advance.
3. Psychological Expectations: Restroom conditions in some remote areas are limited, so be mentally prepared to avoid having your travel experience affected by the environmental gap.