People select burial clothes at a store yesterday. Local authorities have isssued a rule to cap burial charges.

With the coming of Tomb Sweeping Day, the Beijing civil affairs bureau is ready to launch a project to reduce high funeral service fees.

The annual festival, which will fall on April 5 this year, is a national holiday in China set by the lunar calendar. According to the Beijing civil affairs bureau, as many as 2.5 million people are expected to sweep tombs in the city, up 10 percent compared to last year.

Wu Shimin, head of the bureau, told Beijing Public Service Radio on Wednesday they plan to lower funeral service fees this year by setting a citywide standard price and providing free sea burials.

The project will call for funeral homes to provide cheaper cinerary caskets, priced at around 100 yuan, cremation services under 1,000 yuan, and cinerary urns storage rates below 10,000 yuan, Wu said.

However, some funeral supply businesses cast doubt on the project, saying it will make no difference to the industry.

Liu Lexian, manager of Fulushou funeral supplies company, said the expense of a funeral depends on individual needs, adding that quality has to be paid for.

"It is like going to a restaurant - not everyone will ask for the same dish. Those with more money will want to spend more to pay their respects to the dead," Liu said.

Cinerary urns are priced from 700 yuan to 4,500 yuan at Fulushou, significantly cheaper than at crematoriums, Liu claimed.

Another manager, from Xiangyun funeral service center, agreed with Liu. The man, who asked to be identified only as Li, said the industry is monopolized by crematoriums.

"The prices of funeral supplies at crematoriums are at least twice what we charge. The public is required to buy their goods if they want to store ash urns at those crematoriums," he said.

"Some crematoriums may have ash urns priced at 100 yuan, but the quality cannot be guaranteed. I am sure no one will want to buy cheap ones," Li said.

The cremation fee is 380 yuan at Babaoshan crematorium. Including a transportation fee and a farewell ceremony, families can spend from 1,000 yuan, with no top limit.

An employee from Baobaoshan crematorium, who refused to give his name, said those who want to store remains at the crematorium are required to buy urns and other funeral supplies at Babaoshan crematorium directly.

"Our prices run from 165 yuan to more than 10,000 yuan for a wooden urn. It is much more expensive if it is made of jade," he said.