China's Disabled Access/Facilities

I was hoping to write a positive article about disabled people visiting China, as I am a "glass half full" sort of girl, but also get told I can be too honest for my own good. Both my husband and I have 16 years' experience taking disabled people to places and activities in the UK.
Unfortunately, a positive article is just not possible, sorry. (But disabled travel is still possible... read on.)
Why is China like this?
Being disabled, especially if that means you are in a wheelchair would be very difficult, in fact, in some places, nigh on impossible — unless someone took a giant iron to the place: everywhere has steep steps and uneven surfaces. I would advise anyone thinking of going to do so around 40–50, while you are still fit, as it is hard work on your hips and knees, never mind if you are trying to negotiate China in a wheelchair.
Pavements are often uneven, except in big cities, and sometimes are just made of dirt so it would be really hard to push someone in a wheelchair, especially when it's wet.
Health and Safety is quite new to China, if there is work being done outside, there might be huge holes and a gangplank to walk over. It's not that people don't care — if you were struggling then most probably people around would get together and literally carry someone in their chair over any obstacle, it's just that they don't have any experience with people with disabilities. Just like the elders, someone with a disability would normally be looked after by the family, at home.
Cultural Differences
Also the difference in cultures means that there are less people with walking disabilities like needing a stick, or a walker, as the elderly keep more active for longer. Once they have grandchildren they are kept fit running around after them, while their parents work.
Then they also have the "free gym" in the form of the public park. Exercise keeps everyone fit and healthy, so again, there is little experience. Having said that, the parks are one of the only places did regularly see people in wheelchairs, as there always seems to be a good deal of flat ground in the parks, even in mountainous regions.
Hotels and Tourist Spots
Hotels and tourist spots are slowly getting there. But sometimes you may find that although a disabled toilet is clearly marked with a wheelchair logo outside, it is often a step up.
Disabled Toilets
This may seem ludicrous to us in the UK but in China, unless the architect has a disabled relative, the step issue would not cross their mind — toilets in China are mostly up a step. The handrails are useful, but unless you can manage to transfer from your chair to the toilet seat, you still can't use it. I'm aware not everyone who is disabled uses a wheelchair, but it's vital you know what you could be up against before you travel.
Most toilets in China are squat toilets, so even finding a Western one may be a challenge in some places. Plan your itinerary for suitable rest stops if you would struggle squatting.
Travelers with Carers
As for the people I look after, who I push wheelchairs for, there are only a few toilets in China that have enough room to accommodate two people in a cubicle at a time, because the door is usually flush to the toilet bowl, except for room for your knees. Some older toilets don't even have doors!
Most airport toilets are very good, especially the ones at Chengdu Airport, but these were built within the last 3 years, lessons have been learned, and they are in a spacious room, on one level, and fitted with support rails and a pull cord alarm.
Other Uses of Disable Toilets
quite often found disabled toilets used as store rooms, as it is perceived they don't get used very much, so "Why not?" This happens in the UK too, sometimes the hoover or supplies are kept in there, but saw an extreme version in Mount Emei, where it looked like a building site, with bricks and rubble in it!
My Advice
I think China could use a Toilet Advisor. I'm willing to volunteer my services (for a liveable wage). I'm an expert in this field, and I believe it will boost tourism if I manage a toilet revolution. Does anyone know someone in the Chinese Government that I could speak too?
"Wheelchair Taxis"
In some tourist spots they have what they call "wheelchair taxis" — a sedan chair where you are carried by two strapping porters, on a chair, with bamboo poles that they carry on their shoulders.
I paid 80 yuan (about 8 pounds) at Shibaozhai to go about 300 steps up a mountain in the blazing sunshine. Those men really earned their money, and a tip. I felt completely safe and didn't look all sweaty in the photos. It was my birthday so I felt justified. But this shows that times are changing, that allowances are being made, even if you have to pay.
Mountain Climbing
—"wheelchair taxi" needed on standby everywhere
If you are determined to ascend one of China's popular tourist mountains you may be able to book sedan chairs in advance.