Chinese Toilet in Huaihua Street Restaurant

Experience the reality of Chinese toilets in street restaurants in Huaihua.

When it comes to traveling in China, many might think of ancient temples, bustling fresh markets, or delicious dishes worth trying. But for me, mr.hotsia, the “toilet” in street restaurants is another experience not to be overlooked, especially in Huaihua where I had the chance to explore closely.

Huaihua is a small city in China that is not very famous yet, but the atmosphere in the street restaurant area is full of authentic local charm. I strolled around looking for genuine Chinese-style rice dishes that not only taste good but also clearly show the lifestyle of the people here — the scent of spices, the smell of smoke, and the conversations between shop owners and customers.

What made a lasting impression on me was the experience of using the toilet in this street restaurant. Although it looks simple, it clearly reflects the differences in Chinese culture. Toilets in Huaihua range from traditional to some that have been improved in certain shops, but mostly they are squat toilets which can be challenging for tourists unfamiliar with them.

At first, I was a bit worried because many times when encountering Chinese toilets in street restaurants, they are often not very clean or fully equipped. But here it was different. I found toilets that, while simple, were well maintained, with running water for handwashing and soap available. Although not luxurious or equipped with toilet paper like at home, it showed the owner's effort to maintain a certain level of cleanliness — a small care that I really appreciated.

Using the toilet in a Huaihua street restaurant reminded me of experiences I had inZhanghua Provincewhich, although a rare food city, is full of unique eel flavors, or the Suphanburi morning market I once visited, which truly reflects the completeness of food and community lifestyle (Suphanburi Morning Market)

In some shops in Huaihua, there are still toilets where water is used for washing from a basin, which is a traditional Chinese culture I saw and experienced firsthand. Although it may seem inconvenient for Thais like us, it is an opportunity to understand local lifestyles more deeply and makes my trip less boring because I encountered small details that made me feel like a true local.

Another thing that impressed me was the friendliness of the shop owners and community members who kindly guided me on how to use the toilet or gave directions, even though we didn’t share the same language. I think traveling in China like this is fun because we learn and adapt while opening our hearts to new experiences, as I once wrote about inIndawgyi Lake, Kachin State, Myanmaror market trips full of colors and local atmosphere.

If you are planning a trip to China, don’t forget to prepare both your mind and body for small experiences that may seem ordinary but are memorable, like using the toilet in street restaurants in Huaihua. Open your heart to differences and learn the true lifestyle of the Chinese through these small things, because that is the true heart of traveling with mr.hotsia.

For those interested in stories about food and lifestyle in China, I recommend watching the videoChinese Toilet in Huaihua Street Restaurantthat I recorded myself to get a clearer picture and better understand the atmosphere.