FINDING INNER PEACE

Core values of traditional Chinese festivals like benevolence, harmony and filial piety are given due recognition on occasions like Tomb Sweeping Day, Xu Lin reports.

Zheng Fanying, a 46-year-old editor based in Beijing, often sends messages about her recent activities to her late father on the popular instant-messaging app WeChat, and also on special occasions such as his birthday and Tomb Sweeping Day.

Qing Ming Festival, or Tomb Sweeping Day, falls on Friday this year, when Chinese will offer sacrifices and pay respects to the deceased at tombs. It is also a tradition when one lets off firecrackers, burns incense and paper money, and makes offerings of flowers and fruit to the ancestors.