Jiangsu has built 576 cemeteries for eco-friendly burials as more people embrace new alternatives to bid farewell to life.

In one such cemetery in Yangzhou City, the plot for a natural burial is different to a traditional grave site usually marked with a headstone. On March 29, people from 33 families placed ashes of loved ones under cherry trees.

Shi Minsheng, a retired teacher, signed an agreement with the cemetery to bury the ashes of his wife here. Shi also planned to be buried in the same way after he dies.

Zhang Feng, director of the cemetery, said the grave site is the first in China to offer virtual headstone through the application of AR technology. This means people can use their cellphone to locate the burial site of their loved ones and also get information in pictures or text. This also helps pay tribute to the deceased person anytime and from anywhere.

Another memorial park newly built in Yangzhou, about 10 kilometers away from the downtown, will also be used for eco-friendly burial. Pang Tingjin, an official of the Yangzhou Civil Affairs Bureau, said the site will be recycled and reused after 30 years.

He Zhengbiao, deputy director of the Social Affairs Office of the Civil Affairs Department of Jiangsu Province, said the province became one of the first in China in 2017 to undertake funeral reforms including the promotion of burial ways that save land resources and are eco-friendly. Currently, all 13 cities that have subordinate districts have introduced support measures for such initiatives.

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