Ximen Public Toilet Introduction
The Xiaoxi Men Model Toilet was built in the 6th year of the Republic of China (1917) with the financial support of Wu Chaoping, who returned from abroad after engaging in business. Wu Chaoping (1854-1936), also known as Guangping, was from Xiaoxi Men. In the 13th year of the Tongzhi era (1874), he went to Sumatra, Indonesia, and, along with friends, operated a business named "Cheng Shun Fu" in the glass-producing port of Tanjung Balai Asahan, engaging in local product trade. He later expanded his business to Singapore and actively participated in public welfare in Southeast Asia, establishing the Peishan School in the Sulu Islands and taking part in various activities of the Kinmen Clan Association in Singapore. For example, he contributed to the reconstruction of the Wujing Fortune Temple in 1919, invested 1,000 Straits dollars in the founding of the Kinmen Shipping Company in 1922—which was the largest investment by a Chinese businessman at that time—and was awarded the title of Kapitan in Sumatra. In his later years, he resided in Gulangyu, Xiamen. After achieving success in business, Wu Chaoping returned to Xiaoxi Men in the 27th year of the Guangxu era (1900) and planned three connected two-story buildings. These were completed in the 29th year of the Guangxu era (1903), the 31st year (1905), and the 4th year of the Republic of China (1915), respectively. The old waste pit of the Xiaoxi Men settlement was originally located in front of Wu Chaoping's new buildings, but considering sanitary living conditions, he negotiated with villagers to relocate it to the southwestern outskirts of the village. Wu Chaoping then purchased land to rebuild a "model toilet" in the 6th year of the Republic of China (1917). The model toilet had 22 toilet pits based on the original household count, each numbered, consisting of a toilet and a collection pit. The pits numbered 1 and 2 belonged to Wu Chaoping's family and were constructed with roofs for privacy. The positions of the remaining 20 open toilet pits were determined by lottery, with contracts established to determine ownership, allowing each household access to one pit for self-management and collection of waste for agricultural use. The Xiaoxi Men Model Toilet evolved from traditional waste pits, fulfilling the local public health and agricultural needs for fertilizer, reflecting the contributions and improvements made by the locals regarding environmental sanitation and facility space. (Source: Kinmen County Cultural Affairs Bureau)
