Funeral fees get killed ahead of festival

With the coming of Tomb Sweeping Day, the Beijing civil affairs bureau is ready to launch a project to reduce high funeral service fees.

The annual festival, which will fall on April 5 this year, is a national holiday in China set by the lunar calendar. According to the Beijing civil affairs bureau, as many as 2.5 million people are expected to sweep tombs in the city, up 10 percent compared to last year.

Wu Shimin, head of the bureau, told Beijing Public Service Radio on Wednesday they plan to lower funeral service fees this year by setting a citywide standard price and providing free sea burials.