Mandarin/Nat Following the example of former Chinese leader, Deng Xiaoping, many Chinese people are requesting to have their ashes scattered at sea just like their former leader. Chinese people traditionally bury their dead, but now mass scatterings are becoming common in the biggest ports. A final farewell to their deceased loved ones. In the port of Shanghai, some eight-hundred people are sailing out to sea so they can scatter the ashes of their deceased loved ones. Traditionally Chinese people have buried their dead, but since the ashes of former leader, Deng Xiaoping, were scattered out at sea, more and more people are requesting the same. Cremation, however, still violates the Chinese belief that the body should remain whole and be buried. But Deng's cremation is not the only reason people are turning to cremations. In major urban areas, land shortage and the cost of burials are major reasons for the new trend. For the equivalent of about 13 dollars (d), Shanghai's largest funeral parlour, the Shanghai Baoxin (Bow-sheen), will organise a scattering at sea -- significantly cheaper than the price of a traditional funeral. Families are given a number, and they must wait their turn before moving towards the boat's stern to scatter the ashes. Since Deng's death, cremation numbers have risen dramatically. SOUNDBITE: (Mandarin) "I hesitated about scattering the ashes so I kept them for three years. This time, because our nation's chief architect Deng Xiaoping took the lead after his death, I think that people like us should follow his example." SUPER CAPTION: Mr Sui, Participant The funeral trips include transport by bus to the boat, food and flowers. Ashes are mixed with flower petals before scattering and are then scattered near an island at the mouth of China's Yangzi River. With a population of 13 (m) million and about one-hundred-thousand deaths a year in Shanghai, it is hardly surprising why people are turning to alternative methods. SOUNDBITE: (Mandarin) "Usually, before, people like to bury their dead in the ground, but the population of our country is becoming larger and larger, so we should not allow the dead to compete for space with the living, so I think this is the right way." SUPER CAPTION: Ms. Zhu, Participant This new form of burial is also reflecting changes in Chinese society. Many Chinese now believe that cremation is an equally respectful way of laying the deceased to rest. Some, however, believe this is because of the practical problems with traditional burials. SOUNDBITE: (Mandarin) "Usually, the direct descendants take care of their parent's arrangements after they are gone, but the second generation cares little about them. Now, because more and more people are regarding sea burial as a better way because it takes a long time to get cemetery space, and few take care of the graves. That is why it is becoming more and more popular. SUPER CAPTION: Mr. Song Shouqin, Director, Shanghai Baoxin Funeral Parlour Previously the Funeral Parlour organised three annual trips, but this year this number is set to double. Some people are even going so far as booking trips for their own ashes to be scattered. You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/youtube/b902acc8972b5de949a4736ae975f9e1 Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork

• published: 21 Jul 2015
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