Entombing cremated remains in Chinese apartments bannedEXPENSIVE EXIT: Demand for cemetery plots in China is increasing as the population ages and funerals in 2020 cost nearly half the average annual salary, a survey saidAFP, BEIJINGChinese authorities have banned entombing cremated remains in cheap apartments, a practice that had gained popularity as mourners take advantage of the subdued housing market to dodge rising funeral costs. “Bone-ash apartments” are units in remote, barely occupied residential complexes that can be cheaper than a public cemetery plot, local media reported. Photo: AFPBone-ash apartments are often identifiable by sealed-off windows or closed curtains, local media reports said. Funerals in 2020 cost nearly half of the nation’s average annual salary, a survey by British insurance firm SunLife showed. Debt and stalled construction have plagued leading firms since 2020, when curbs on excessive borrowing and speculation dramatically narrowed access to credit.

Source: Taipei Times March 31, 2026 23:22 UTC