Jinan Environment Sanitation Science Research Centre is developing China’s first hidden public toilet. When the toilet is hidden from view only a sculpture located on top of it can be seen. These toilets will be installed on lawns beside the sidewalk along the main streets and bus stops and will be operated by inserting a 1 yuan coin. Once the coin is inserted, the toilet will automatically rise up to the surface. It is set to debut next year.


Holy Batman! A hidden toilet that emerges from the ground after you insert one yuan? I'm so there, Maxwell Smart. The pop-up conveniences are being installed in China and will debut next year, just in time for the Beijing Olympic Games. One second you see a sculpture, the next a living and breathing W.C. materializes right in front of your eyes. Expect countless stories to hit the media in 2008, like "Emerging Toilet Leads To Secret Mao Cloning Facilities," "Panda Ninjas Use Magic Toilets to Access Hidden Lairs," and the all-time classic: "Mechanic Toilets Process People Into Canned Meat."