No Suzhou tombs for non-locals

While millions of visitors from neighboring cities swarmed into Suzhou, Jiangsu province, during the holiday to sweep tombs, people are finding it increasingly hard to buy new tombs there following a policy banning non-locals from buying spaces in public cemeteries.

"Those who are not Suzhou residents must get approval from the civil affairs authorities before they can buy a tomb here," said Zhang Jihong, deputy head of the civil affairs bureau in Suzhou.

The problem has been exacerbated by the aging population and urbanization, which has caused a shortage of tomb spaces in Suzhou and sent prices soaring.