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China moves to ban storage of ashes in private homes
Chinese authorities will soon prohibit families from keeping cremated remains in residential properties, targeting a practice that has grown as cemetery prices soar and housing costs decline.
Why families turned to 'bone ash apartments'
With burial plots in short supply and leases requiring renewal every 20 years, many mourners have opted to convert empty apartments into private memorials. These spaces, often recognizable by sealed windows, serve as makeshift shrines for ancestral ashes.
The trend has accelerated as property prices fell by 40% since 2021, making home purchases more affordable than cemetery plots. In Beijing's Changping Tianshou Cemetery, standard tombstone plots start at 150,000 yuan (£16,400), with premium options exceeding 300,000 yuan (£32,841).
What the new law prohibits
The legislation bars the use of residential properties "specifically for the placement of ashes" and restricts burials to designated cemeteries or approved ecological burial sites. Violations could face enforcement, though regulators have not yet detailed inspection methods.
On social media, skepticism emerged over how authorities will identify and address violations. "How will they know if an apartment is being used just for ashes?" one Weibo user asked. Another questioned the affordability of alternatives: "Who would resort to this if cemetery plots were reasonable?"
Broader reforms target funeral industry costs
The ban arrives ahead of the Qingming Festival, a holiday when families honor deceased relatives. On Tuesday, the State Administration for Market Regulation and the Ministry of Civil Affairs announced plans to combat fraud and pricing opacity in the funeral sector, aiming to "reduce the financial burden on the public."
In 2020, funeral expenses equaled nearly half of China's average annual salary, according to a SunLife survey. The government's new measures seek to address these long-standing concerns.
Enforcement challenges ahead
While the law signals a crackdown, its practical impact remains uncertain. Observers note that identifying violations-such as distinguishing memorial apartments from vacant properties-may prove difficult without intrusive inspections.
