Beijing, Mar 31: China is set to prohibit the use of residential apartments for storing cremated remains, targeting a growing practice where families convert vacant homes into private memorial spaces due to high burial costs and limited cemetery availability.
The proposed regulation bans the use of housing units “specifically for the placement of ashes” and restricts burials to officially designated cemeteries or approved ecological zones. Authorities say the move is part of a broader effort to standardize funeral practices, curb misuse of residential properties, and improve transparency in the funeral services sector.
The phenomenon, often referred to as “bone ash apartments,” has gained traction in recent years as property prices declined sharply—by nearly 40% in 2025 compared to 2021—making it cheaper for some families to purchase unused apartments than secure burial plots. These units are typically converted into ritual halls or ancestral shrines, sometimes marked by sealed windows and permanently drawn curtains.
At the same time, cemetery space in major urban centers remains scarce and costly. In cities like Beijing, burial plots are leased for limited periods—usually 20 years—and can cost anywhere from around 10,000 yuan for eco-friendly options to as much as 300,000 yuan for premium plots. Funeral expenses themselves can amount to nearly half of an average annual income, adding to the financial strain on households.
Officials from the Ministry of Civil Affairs and the State Administration for Market Regulation have also announced new measures aimed at tackling fraud and increasing price transparency within the funeral industry. The government says these steps are intended to “reduce the burden of funerals on the masses.”
The announcement comes just ahead of the Qingming Festival, a traditional period when families honor their ancestors by tending graves and making ritual offerings—highlighting the delicate balance between long-standing cultural practices and modern economic realities.
However, the proposed ban has sparked debate online, with some questioning how authorities will enforce the rules and whether the policy addresses the root issue of affordability. Critics argue that without lowering cemetery costs, families may continue to seek alternative arrangements.
The development underscores China’s broader challenges of urban land scarcity, rising living costs, and the need to regulate emerging practices shaped by economic pressures.
