Tomb-sweeping goes virtual

According to Zeng, the municipal civil affairs bureau will introduce special arrangements, such as virtual ceremonies via the website or WeChat platform of each cemetery.

Fushouyuan, a leading funeral service provider with a presence in more than 30 Chinese cities, has already received a flurry of inquiries about how people can pay their respects during this period.

"Many customers have expressed a strong desire to visit the cemetery in person, but they also understand the need for such regulations given the current circumstances," said Yi Hua, a spokeswoman with the company.

In response, Fushouyuan launched the Fushou Cloud platform which allows people to carry out the usual tomb-sweeping rituals virtually. Through a web interface, customers can choose from a variety of services, such as placing flowers on tombs and burning incense, that are performed by cemetery staff. Customers can also pay to have a video or photo of the grave taken.

According to Yi, the new cloud service received more than 72,000 pageviews in its first week. More than 1,000 clients across the country, including 700 in Shanghai, had also signed up for the service.

"Wherever you are, as long as you turn on the computer or your smart phone, you can 'enter' the cemetery and pay your respects. People can see the gravestones at all Fushouyuan premises in China throughthe web platform," Yi told China Daily in an exclusive interview.

People who prefer to visit the graves in person will have to schedule an appointment with the cemetery via its WeChat platform. Upon entering the cemetery, visitors will be required to present their appointment record, wear a mask as well as show their personal health QR codes. A cap on visitor numbers has also been put in place.

"We do understand that some people will need to be in the cemetery during this period, such as those who have already scheduled to bury their loved ones, and we have launched an appointment system for these purposes, too," Zeng said.