Woman stages own 'funeral' to move on from breakup

In an unconventional and somewhat eccentric move, a woman in her twenties, surnamed Wang, organized her own "funeral" followed by a banquet, declaring that she now has "no more regrets."

This unique event took place in Chengdu, Sichuan province and was inspired by Wang's friends who playfully asked when they could attend her banquets, having previously attended several friends' wedding banquets, according to a report on news website China.org.cn.

Wang, aged 25, had experienced a breakup earlier in the year with her long-time boyfriend, a relationship that her parents had denied matrimony due to its long-distance nature. She was still grappling with the aftermath of the breakup.

Teased by her friends' remarks about banquets, Wang decided to host a "funeral" for herself, an event commonly associated with Chinese customs and traditionally accompanied by a banquet.

Over a dozen friends joined the "funeral" ceremony on a Saturday. In a dimly lit room, they engaged in rituals such as bowing to and circling around Wang, who lay on a bed surrounded by candles and a large black-and-white portrait, emulating the customs of a funeral service.

During the ceremony, friends shared their thoughts about Wang, the concepts of life and death, and various life challenges. Following the service, they embraced Wang and shared a meal together.

Wang explained, "While some may find my idea avant-garde and unconventional, my friends believed that it could help me move on from the painful breakup by staging this 'funeral.' Now that I've experienced my own banquet, I feel a sense of closure and readiness to move forward."

While some netizens found the idea ominous and perplexing, a majority admired Wang's courage and resilience. One of the most-liked comments read, "She has been reborn."