Residents scatter the ashes of their loved ones off the side of a ship in Tianjin on Tuesday. More Beijing residents are opting for the ceremony every year. [Photo/ China Daily]

Increase in ashes scattered off coast down to subsidies, new attitudes

More Beijingers are being buried at sea, helping to save space and the environment, according to the capital's funeral authorities.

As of Tuesday, more than 300 residents' remains had been scattered in rituals held off the coast of Tianjin this spring, with the final figure for the year expected to top 1,000 for the first time.

Officials at the Beijing Funeral Ritual Service Center, which organize the ceremonies, attributed the increase to greater public awareness and subsidies offered by the government.

"I feel so excited to be carrying out my mother's long-cherished wish to rest in peace at sea. She was so broad-minded and optimistic about life," said Mai Tian, 55, as he stood with about 200 others on the deck of a boat near Tanggu dock.

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"My mother said she will live with us forever and that there is no need to keep her remains, which will cause more burden on the environment," he said. "I fully supported her choice and I'm proud of her free spirit."

Sea burials, which are held over several days twice a year, in spring and autumn, consist of three parts: mourning, scattering of ashes and releasing pigeons. Since 1994, ceremonies have been held for more than 7,000 Beijingers.

Wang Yunbin, director of the ritual service center, said that although the capital is entirely landlocked, applications are increasing year-on-year as sea burial gains higher recognition.

"Five years ago, there were only 200 families who signed up to the program," he said. "Last year, the number reached 956 and this year we predict it will be more than 1,000."

By resorting to sea burials, he said families are helping to alleviate the shortage of land resources. "About 70,000 people die in Beijing every year on average, and only slightly more than 1 percent of them are scattered at sea," said Wang. "Even given this percentage, 7,000 square meters of land is saved every year."

The ritual service center is closely working with departments in Tianjin, including the marine bureau, traffic bureau and oceanic administration office, to make the service more convenient.

Beijing is the first Chinese city to set official sea burial standards, stating how long the mourning ceremony should last, what kind of buses and boats should be used and how far away from shore the casting of ashes should take place. Authorities also offer a subsidy of 2,000 yuan to cover relatives' transport and food costs, as well as the charge for the ceremony.

"Compared with the practical troubles of bureaucratic procedure, changes in attitude are more difficult," said Wang Yunbin. "Sea burials still need promoting in Beijing. That's why the government is subsidizing this program to persuade more people into choosing this memorable and environmentally friendly ceremony."

Wang Qiaoquan, director of the funeral and burial management, which runs the program, told METRO that burials at sea will be more widely practiced as more people realize the benefits to the environment.

"This relatively new kind of burial is at the moment favored by just three types of people: those with higher education backgrounds, environmental protection enthusiasts and those burying people not directly related to them," he added.