A fish tank, green plants and a first-aid box are some of the things that make the public restroom different. (Photo: HE QI/CHINA DAILY)
The couple started to collect and decorate, and later purchased an air purifier by themselves.
Their employer, Xinwang Environment Sanitation Service, then decided to add air purifiers to all the 18 public toilets it runs and allocated funds to support their decorative ideas, Zou said.
"Most of the users are from the nearby neighborhood, but we also serve many travelers as the bathroom is close to a long-distance bus station," he said. "Therefore, we bought travel guides to help them."
They also spend their days off touring the city so they can better answer travelers' inquiries.
As they have discovered more about the needs of people using the restroom, the couple have extended the range of services provided. Cheng said elderly users can be prone to dizziness, so a medicine cabinet was necessary, and they also help them test their blood pressure.
"We believe that our duty is not limited to guaranteeing the cleanliness of the washroom, but also providing convenient services that make everyone who comes here feel comfortable," Cheng said.
Restroom user Yuan Chenyuan, 26, said: "I was surprised by the beautiful and odorless washroom, and surprised by the cleaners' age. It could stand as a sign of improving public services in recent years."
Shanghai, the city that introduced the country's first modern public toilet in 1864, has been dedicated to improving its public toilet standards as part of its effort to become a world-class tourism destination. According to official statistics, the city had around 11,300 public bathrooms in November 2016.
Zou, who has been working as a public toilet cleaner in Shanghai since he moved to the city in 2004 after graduating from high school, said the couple are happy with their jobs because they love the work.
"Most of the toilet cleaners in the city come from rural regions, with low educational backgrounds," he said. "But that's not a reason for you to look down upon the job. Once you love your job, you will do it well."
They earn around 10,000 yuan ($1,455) a month between them and save most of it to support their 11-year-old son, who lives with them in Shanghai.
