Summary
China has decided to ban storing cremated remains in empty apartments, known as "bone ash apartments," due to high cemetery costs and limited space. This new rule aims to stop people from using homes to keep ashes of deceased family members as an alternative to more expensive burial plots. The government also plans to introduce new rules to make funeral costs more transparent and reduce financial burdens.
Key Facts
- China will no longer allow storing cremated remains in empty apartments, called "bone ash apartments."
- This practice has grown because of high burial costs and fewer available cemetery spaces.
- Cemetery plots in China can be costly and come with a lease that needs renewal every 20 years.
- Funeral costs in China have been nearly half of the country's average yearly salary.
- New rules will be introduced to address fraud and lack of transparency in funeral pricing.
- The decision comes just before the Qingming Festival, a traditional time for honoring the deceased.
