Green burials better accepted by Chinese people

Families who take part in tree burials lay flowers on the ground after the funeral in Shenzhen, South China's Guangdong province on April 1, 2015. [Photo/CFP]

Many Chinese people are currently turning to greener burials such as sea and tree burials, instead of traditional cremation and burial practices.

Upon this year's Qingming Festival, or Tomb Sweeping Day, chinanews.com conducted a survey, which shows that roughly 65 percent of participants favor greener ways of burials, and about 72 percent of people complain about the high prices of cemeteries.

Among those who prefer green burials, more people tend to adopt tree burials, a way to bury ashes under trees. Many believe that tree burial is a good option to both save space and let the deceased rest in peace under earth.

Local governments across China, like in Beijing, Tianjin, and Guangdong, have also increased subsidies for those who would like to choose sea burials or tree burials for their deceased family members

Some people believe whether or not to adopt green burial methods depends on the wills of the deceased and their family members. Others believe economic incentives could help get more people into the ecological ways of burials, which is an important step to curb graveyard land shortage and promote burial reform in China.