As cemetery prices in China have soared to levels dozens of times higher than apartment prices, the practice of so-called "urn apartments" — storing the remains of the deceased in residential apartments — has been spreading. As the issue escalated into a social problem, the Chinese government banned the practice by law at the end of last month.
According to Hong Kong's South China Morning Post (SCMP) on the 5th, rapid urban development has reduced available land while the elderly population has grown quickly, intensifying the shortage of cemetery space. As of July last year, Shanghai had just over 54 private cemeteries, most of which were near full capacity. In March 2023, it was revealed that plots at Shanghai's Songhe Cemetery were selling for 760,000 yuan (approximately 166 million won) per square meter, shocking the public. This was 14 times the average Shanghai apartment price at the time of 55,000 yuan (approximately 12 million won) per square meter.
The prohibitive cost of cemetery plots has given rise to new burial practices. In Beijing, the usage rights for a mid-range cemetery plot last only 20 years, but for a similar cost, one can purchase a small apartment in a second- or third-tier city and secure ownership for 70 years. Additional advantages include the ability to decorate the space as desired, visit for memorial purposes at any time, and the option to sell or rent the property to recoup some costs in times of financial difficulty.
However, the practice has sparked social controversy as nearby residents expressed anxiety and concerns about declining property values. In Tianjin in northern China, there was a case where a 16-building complex was sold and leased under the guise of "family shrines," storing tens of thousands of urns. When the smell of incense burned during holidays such as the Qingming Festival and ritual activities disrupted the daily lives of nearby residents, local authorities deemed the activities violations and issued corrective orders.
The Chinese government enacted the "Funeral and Burial Management Regulations" on the 30th of last month, comprehensively banning the storage of remains in residential properties. The move has sparked heated debate on local social media. Critics argued, "Who would even know if someone keeps remains at home? The real problem is that cemetery prices are too expensive — this law doesn't address the root cause." Others responded, "It's ironic that the living can't afford to buy homes while the dead have nowhere to be buried." On the other hand, some suggested that "alternative funeral methods such as sea burials should be adopted."
