Green memorial practices have swept across China during this year’s Qingming Festival. Specifically, the China Funeral and Burial Network officially went live on Sunday, the festival day itself. The Ministry of Civil Affairs guided the development of this new digital platform. It integrates funeral services, burial arrangements, and memorial rituals nationwide. Consequently, green memorial practices are replacing traditional firecrackers and paper burning.
Qingming Festival traditionally involves visiting graves and hanging ceremonial paper streamers. For centuries, people have also burned incense and paper offerings for their departed loved ones. Setting off firecrackers has been a common practice for many generations. However, this year shows a dramatic shift toward greener alternatives. In fact, green memorial practices now dominate the holiday landscape across urban and rural China.
Ministry of Civil Affairs data reveals striking figures from Sunday alone. Specifically, a total of 66,200 funeral and burial institutions provided on-site memorial services nationwide. Approximately 30.73 million people visited cemeteries to pay respects. Among these visitors, 19.58 million chose green memorial practices. These mourners used flower offerings instead of traditional paper burning. As a result, they represented 63.7 percent of all on-site visitors. Additionally, 859 online memorial platforms served 353,800 participants. Funeral institutions also handled 19,258 cremated remains interments. Among these, 1,281 used ecological burial methods like sea or tree burials. Thus, these green memorial practices accounted for 6.65 percent of total interments.
Guizhou Province offers a clear example of this cultural shift. For instance, at Fuzeyuan Cemetery in Guiyang, a dedicated exchange point operates at the entrance. Visitors can swap paper money for fresh flowers at this location. Inside the cemetery, no firecracker residue remains visible anywhere. In fact, only flowers and greenery can be seen throughout the grounds. Staff in Bijie city distribute fresh flowers completely free of charge. They guide the public toward more civilized tomb-sweeping practices. Moreover, flower shops in Qiannan display yellow and white chrysanthemums prominently. Lilies and other memorial flowers also fill their storefronts. Many shops introduced special bouquet sets for the Qingming occasion. Therefore, these green memorial practices make flower selection convenient for citizens.
Nearly 158,000 people visited Guizhou cemeteries on Saturday alone. According to local media, 90 percent opted for green memorial practices. Furthermore, eleven online memorial platforms helped connect people across distances. This digital shift reflects broader industry trends as well. For example, China currently hosts over 9,400 active cloud memorial service companies. Approximately 1,000 new firms registered in 2026 already. Basic features like virtual flowers have become standard offerings. Electronic candles and online messages complete the digital package. Consequently, these green memorial practices now extend into the virtual realm.
Xining city in Qinghai Province has implemented smoke-free tomb-sweeping. Specifically, major cemeteries completely ban paper money burning now. Firecrackers face prohibition throughout all burial grounds. Local citizens have embraced this shift enthusiastically. They use fresh flowers instead of paper money offerings. Written messages replace traditional incense burning as well. Residents conscientiously place ritual items in designated areas. A staff member at Xining Martyrs’ Cemetery noted high cooperation levels. Residents voluntarily bring flowers and refrain from paper burning. They avoid smoking and follow all new guidelines properly. The level of civility continues getting higher each year. As a result, these green memorial practices have gained genuine public acceptance.
A decade has passed since China promoted ecological burials. Specifically, the Ministry of Civil Affairs and eight other departments issued a document in 2016. Sea burials, tree burials, and flower burials have gained steady acceptance. Lawn burials offer additional compassionate options for honoring loved ones. To date, 28 provinces have introduced subsidy policies for ecological burials. Therefore, after ten years of exploration, green memorial practices are steadily taking root nationwide.
Tianjin’s sea burial service has expanded dramatically over time. Gao Yong, deputy director of the city’s funeral service station, provided details. Early years saw just over 200 participants annually for sea burials. However, this year nearly 4,000 people will participate in the program. The service originally operated only during Qingming season. Now it runs year-round with nearly 40 batches scheduled. Beijing offers a 4,000 yuan subsidy per case for sea burials. Shanghai streamlined its subsidy application process significantly. Land-saving small graves now represent over 80 percent of burial sales. Thus, these green memorial practices receive strong government support and public participation.
