Published on: 2026-04-16
Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian –
An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.
Beijing, April 16 /Xinhua/ — Burn ritual paper or lay live flowers? Install a stone slab or choose to scatter ashes at sea? Can we trust memory about the departed to artificial intelligence? In China, these questions have ceased to be rhetorical.
In recent years, many regions of China have been implementing new forms of farewell and remembrance, striving to find a balance between tradition, ecology, and advanced technologies in this most “conservative” sphere of human existence.
On March 30, in China, recently revised rules concerning burial and funeral services came into effect. The regulatory acts directly encourage burials at sea, under a tree, “flower” burials, etc.
As of today, 28 administrative units at the provincial level across China have issued guiding principles supporting economical land resources and environmentally friendly planting methods, reinforced by subsidies and incentive measures to encourage their adoption.
From the pier in the city of Dunyin (Shandong Province, East China), the boat sailed to the designated area in the open sea — this is the resting place of Mrs. Li’s father. Standing by the illuminator, she watched the rolling waves, and tears streamed down her face.
“My father was deeply committed to environmental protection,” he said. “He often told us that he wanted his ashes to be scattered at sea in order to leave the earth clean for future generations.”
According to Van Syaopen, an employee of the Civil Administration of Yantai City in Shandong Province, since the launch of the city program in 2015 for charitable maritime shelters in the marine area, a total of 5,170 people have been resettled, which allowed saving about 4,100 square meters of land.
“The cost of an average traditional burial is about 20,000 yuan (approximately 2,900 USD). Only by reducing the number of sea burials, society has saved nearly 100 million yuan in burial-related expenses,” he noted.
Official data shows that in 2025, more than 50 thousand maritime burials were conducted in China, which is 170 percent more than the 20 thousand similar burials recorded in 2020.
Visiting graves during the Qingming Festival / Day of Remembrance of the Deceased / is an ancient Chinese tradition. In the past, people usually burned ritual paper and incensed directly at the grave. Nowadays, bouquets of fresh flowers are increasingly used instead of ashes, dispersing in the air.
“In recent years, we have consistently explained that instead of burning ritual paper, it is better to bring live flowers – this is both more ecological and safer. And today, the majority of the population has already adopted this norm,” said Fan Hesi, an employee of the forestry bureau in Lanzhou city / Gansu province, Northwest China, adding that during mourning rituals for the departed, it’s important not the form, but the sincerity.
It is worth noting that the development of AI technology offers the living a chance not only to solemnly say goodbye to those who have passed away, but also to compensate digitally for what was missed during their lifetime.
In the recently revised rules concerning funeral and burial services, it is indicated that it is necessary to promote the introduction of scientific and technological innovations and the dissemination of new technologies in the field of funerals and burials. Today, the application of new technologies, including AI, in this field receives a response from the population.
“Based on photographs of the deceased, we generate his digital avatar using AI and create a microfilm that we show at the farewell ceremony to tell the life story of the departed,” said Gao Xiaoxia, who is the person responsible for planning burials at the Fushouyuan Cemetery in Lanzhou.
According to her, starting from 2025, the cemetery will use AI technologies, offering relatives of the deceased such services as a digital avatar for remembrance, restoration of old photographs and microfilms about life, so that the final “farewell” is filled with human emotions.
“When faced with the loss of a close person, the family experiences a deep emotional trauma and needs psychological support,” he noted, adding that the use of AI significantly enhances the moment of farewell, allowing for more complete emotional support to relatives and helping them cope with their feelings.
Cao Junpin, secretary of the party group of the Civil Administration Department of Hunan Province, noted that thanks to political enlightenment and cultural influence, the funeral service industry is gradually shifting the focus from “form and matter” to “ritual and culture.” Reform in this sphere is not simply a change of customs, but a modernization of memory with more civilized methods. -0-
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