Thai temple BANS Chinese tourists for defecating on toilets and dropping used loo roll

A THAI temple banned Chinese tourists after staff found they had defecated in an ornate golden building and dropped used loo roll in water tanks.

The Golden Toilet at Wat Rong KhunGETTY

Chinese tourists were banned for making a mess in the Golden Toilet at the Wat Rong Khun temple

Chalermchai Kositpipat, who owns the White Temple in Chiang Rai, ordered staff to block visitors from the country after a woman used the toilet, didn't flush and then threw soiled loo paper into a water tank.

The visitor was ordered to clean up the mess but refused and left, according to local media reports. The incident on February 3 was the final straw after a series of inappropriate toilet uses – including visitors defecating on the seats.

But he lifted the ban after just half a day when disappointed Chinese tourists complained - on the condition that tour guides clean the toilets if their clients make a mess.

The temple's toilets are in an ornate golden building which is a popular photo spot for visitors.

"The ban and the warning were necessary," a staff member said. "Otherwise it would happen again."

Locals suggested that tourists should have to pay a deposit before visiting, with penalties applied for uncivilised behaviour.

They also condemned visitors who climbed Chiang Mai's old city wall – where many believe that ancestral spirits reside – while wearing improper clothing.

The grand building, which is known locally as Wat Rong Khun, was opened to visitors in 1997 and is built in the style of a Buddhist temple.

Kositpipat spent £800,000 of his own money renovating the dilapidated building at the end of the 20th century because no funding was available.

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