The rise of bone ash apartments in China has led to rising costs of burial and a shortage of cemeteries, leading the government to ban the practice. Families are increasingly moving or using vacant residential apartments to store the cremated remains of loved ones rather than using traditional cemeteries.
High cemetery costs and limited space have made purchasing an apartment more affordable than a burial plot. In 2025, property prices in China are expected to fall 40% from 2021 levels. As a result, these properties are converted into private ritual halls or ancestral temples, which can often be identified by sealed windows and permanently closed curtains. Burial plots in cities such as Beijing are expensive and generally only come with a 20-year lease that must be renewed.
In response, the Chinese government is specifically banning the use of residential properties to hold ashes. The law also prohibits the burial of remains outside designated cemeteries or authorized ecological burial areas. The announcement came just ahead of the Qingming Festival, a traditional time of honoring ancestors.
Meanwhile, a 2020 survey revealed that funerals in China cost almost half the average annual salary. While eco-friendly plots can start at 10,000-yuan, standard mausoleums in prime locations are out of reach for many. Following a public outcry, the Civil Affairs Ministry is introducing rules to increase price transparency in the funeral industry to tackle fraud and reduce the burden on the public.
Social media users on platforms like Weibo argue that people resort to these apartments only because they cannot afford cemetery plots. Additionally, critics question how the government will effectively monitor private apartments to determine whether they are being used for living or for ash storage.
The State Administration for Market Regulation has clarified new requirements for the funeral industry after concerns over high costs. The agency is committed to bringing in new rules to tackle fraud and ensure transparency to reduce the burden of funerals on the public.
