More than 50 new public bathhouses will be built in urban Beijing for people living in traditional siheyuan, single-story brick courtyard residences that often lack private facilities.

The bathhouses, which will be operated by business people with proven track records, will have tubs, toilets and sinks, all with running water.

Last week’s adjustment of water prices brought the cost to the commercial bathhouse industry to 61.5 yuan (US$7.40) per ton, up from 11.2 yuan (US$1.40) per ton, according to the Beijing Municipal Commission of Development and Reform.

But water prices at the new public bathhouses will be controlled and customers will pay less than 10 yuan (US$1.20) to use the facilities, according to the Beijing Municipal Bureau of Commerce.

"Can you believe that I only have a bath every two weeks in winter? There is no bathhouse nearby," said Zhai Zhenrong, 80, who has lived in a siheyuan in Beijing’s Xuanwu District for nearly 60 years. Zhai shares an old room of less than 20 square meters with her son, daughter-in-law and grandson. "In summer, it is too hot, so I use a basin and take a sponge bath every day," she said.

Zhai was pleased to hear about the public bathhouse plan. "I wish there could be one outside my door," she said.

A list of the locations has not been finalized yet. The Beijing News reported that neighborhood committees in residential areas where the bathhouses will be built would publish the list when it is ready.

Personnel contacted Wednesday at the Beijing Municipal Bureau of Commerce would not give a timetable for opening the facilities.

All eight urban Beijing districts contain siheyuan, but they are concentrated in Xicheng, Dongcheng, Xuanwu and Chongwen. Each district will have at least seven new facilities.

Government officials have warned that only bathhouses observing strict conditions will be eligible for the discounted water prices. They must have water-saving facilities, meet national and municipal standards and be maintained for at least three years.

Business people with poor records will be forbidden to operate the bathhouses.

The Beijing Municipal Bureau of Commerce has also promised to provide subsidies to the bathhouses, but did not disclose the amount.

(China Daily August 5, 2004)