Chinese buy flats for cremated ashes due to high cemetery costs, leading to law against practice

As cemetery costs rise in China, many people are buying flats to store the ashes of their loved ones.

Photo: SCMP composite/Shutterstock/RedNote As Chinese cemeteries become increasingly expensive many people are buying flats to store the ashes of their loved ones, triggering a discussion which has divided public opinion.

Chinese families have long placed great importance on burial practices, with securing a respectable grave regarded as an essential act of filial piety.

However, as rapid urban development limits available land and an ageing population drives up demand, burial space has become increasingly scarce, giving rise to exorbitantly priced graves.

A public cemetery built in the form of residential flats located in Tianjin, China.

Photo: Handout For instance, as of July 2025, Shanghai had just over 54 commercial cemeteries, many of which are already close to being sold out.

In March 2023, Shanghai Songhe Cemetery went viral online after their price was revealed to have reached around 760,000 yuan (US$110,000) per square metre.

At the time, the average housing price in Shanghai was about 55,000 yuan per square metre, according to several online property platforms.

As traditional cemetery plots become increasingly unaffordable, people have begun seeking alternatives, with some choosing to buy residential flats to store ashes as a more practical option.

An unsightly residential flat which is being used to store human ashes.

Photo: zhuanlan.zhihu.com/ This approach not only addresses the issue of placement but also offers financial advantages, as property can retain its value and provide a longer period of use for storing ashes.

For instance, in Beijing, a mid-range cemetery plot typically comes with only 20 years of usage rights.

However, with a similar budget, families could instead buy a small flat in a second or third-tier city.

Such properties offer 70-year ownership rights, allow for flexible decoration, and enable families to pay their respects at any time, offering a more personal form of remembrance.

A bricked-up “cemetery” flat window with steel bars.

Critics fear the trend will affect the value of properties.

Photo: zhuanlan.zhihu.com/ Also, in cases of financial difficulty, the property can also be sold or rented out like a standard asset, allowing families to recover part of the cost.

However, the practice has sparked controversy, with concerns that it may disturb neighbours and cause psychological discomfort.

It could al

原文链接: 南华早报