A man visits Yuhanshan Cemetery to pay tribute to the dead ahead of Qingming Festival in Jinan, east China's Shandong Province, April 1, 2021. The Tomb-sweeping Day, also known as Qingming Festival, which falls on April 4 this year, is a Chinese festival when people pay tribute to the dead and worship their ancestors by visiting tombs and making offerings. Photo: Xinhua

With the Qingming Festival in early April approaching, various stores on China's major online shopping and social media platforms have begun offering to send "professionals" to sweep at the graves on behalf of their customers.

The Qingming Festival is a traditional festival where Chinese people express their condolences to the deceased. Sweeping tombs and offering sacrifices are all customary on this day.
 
In recent years, due to the impact of population movements and the COVID-19 epidemic prevention and control measures, some people cannot be personally present to pay respects to the deceased. This has led to various kinds of business to emerge that hire professionals to visit the tomb for them.

The Global Times found that the prices and content of these services vary widely. For example, a seller who provides sweeping services in Suzhou, East China's Jiangsu Province, said he charges 500 yuan ($78.5) for the services. However, flowers, fruits or pastries cost an additional fee. To kowtow and mourn, and to livestream for customers to talk to their deceased relatives also cost extra money. Another vendor has offered tomb-sweeping packages, which include pouring wine, talking and crying at the grave, for up to 1,000 yuan.

However, the price of sacrificial products in China is usually only a few dozen yuan.

There is a huge controversy among the Chinese public on the internet about this type of service. Some netizens believe hiring an outsider to visit tombs takes away the essence of the ritual and respect, such services are putting a price on "filial piety." However, there are also many people who feel that the valet service meets the real needs of a specific group.

Amid the trendy service, relevant department have also strengthened supervision. Recently, the Sichuan Province Consumer Rights and Interests Protection Committee issued a reminder to alert consumers to be wary of arbitrary price demands and lack of integrity during the tomb-sweeping service.

Global Times