Now and then: Changing funeral trends

A man scatters the ashes of his late father in the sea in Shenyang, northeast China's Liaoning province. [Photo: NetEase]

In order to encourage sea burials, authorities in charge of Beijing funerals have doubled the grant from 2,000 yuan ($320 dollars) to 4,000 yuan.

Tradition holds that the dead should be buried in earth beside their ancestors, and people visit family tombs on Tomb Sweeping Day.

But a shortage of arable land and other factors led the government to promote more eco-friendly burials and the new policy will allow up to six family members to participate in the ceremony at sea for free. Previously, only two were allowed.