We all know that Beijing is overcrowded. There are too many people, too many cars and, well, too many gravesites. Because of the capital's lack of space and rapidly ageing population, the Beijing government announced last year that it would no longer allow the construction of new cemeteries inside the city. With this new ruling it’s no surprise that Beijing started promoting less traditional (and more eco-friendly) burial options.
READ MORE: Is Beijing Running Out of Space to Bury Its Dead?
Beijing authorities are now offering the city’s residents free “natural burials” as a means to cope with the city's overcrowded cemeteries, South China Morning Post reports. The service comes complete with a bronze plaque and a QR code. The QR code feature might sound odd, but when family members scan it they can view the deceased’s biography, family tree, photos and videos. It’s even possible for visitors to leave messages. (Still sounds odd...)
With the annual Qingming festival just days away, Beijing held its first ever “natural burial” ceremony on Saturday. The ashes of 31 people were put in biodegradable containers and placed in the ground at Changqing Cemetery in Chaoyang. The containers will reportedly biodegrade in roughly six months.
In recent years, the local government has been pushing eco-friendly funerals. In 2015, the government announced vowed that at least half of its deceased citizens will have ‘eco-friendly’ funerals by 2020 in an effort to save space and reduce the environmental impact of scattered ashes.
In addition to natural burials in biodegradable containers, the government is still offering free sea burials to residents. Last year 2,456 people signed up.
[Image via South China Morning Post]
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