SHANGHAI: All public toilets in the city will be free of charge from this year, and new toilets will be built to meet the needs of the 2010 Shanghai World Expo.

Ma Yun'an, chief of Shanghai's urban management bureau, said on the Internet yesterday that the bureau is increasing the speed of its public toilet construction and renovation for the expo.

The city has more than 5,200 public toilets in both downtown and suburban areas, enough to meet current needs.