On April 4, the annual Tomb-Sweeping Day, Miss Tang who lives in Gangkou Town came to the Zhongshan Funeral Home early in the morning to mourn her grandfather, and attended the Qingming Public Memorial Ceremony as a citizen representative.

On that day, many citizens had arrived at the Zhongshan Fuyinyuan Cemetery and Zhongshan Funeral Home before opening hours. Like Miss Tang, they made special appointments and went to sweep graves as part of a new regulation introduced by funeral service agencies this year.

It was reported that nearly 60,000 citizens went to Zhongshan Fuyinyuan Cemetery and Zhongshan Funeral Parlor by appointments.

Paper offerings could be exchanged for flowers for the first time in Zhongshan Fuyinyuan Cemetery this year. The new service attracted many citizens. Paying respects "smoke-free" or without burning paper offerings has gradually became more popular. There were also many citizens who chose online methods to commemorate and pay their respects for deceased relatives and friends.

"Civilized ancestor worship is widely accepted and has gradually become a common custom," said a spokesperson for the Zhongshan Civil Affairs Bureau.