Hidden costs of death
As millions paused to honor their ancestors during the annual Tomb-Sweeping Festival, the increasing cost of cemetery plots and funerals has become a focus of national anger. One newspaper report in the northeastern city of Harbin complained that plots were now costing more per square meter than luxury apartments.
The subject was taken up at the National People's Congress, China's annual parliament, at which delegates complained of urns costing more than television sets and tombs more than houses.
The state will open subsidized cemeteries this year that will sell urns and plaques for a maximum of 4,238 yuan ($620). A Shanghai garden of rest will offer "eco-tombs" for $205.
In the most sought-after graveyards such as Beijing's Babaoshan Cemetery, plots start at a minimum of 70,000 yuan a square meter for 20 years, after which the family of the dead must pay a renewal fee or face the indignity of having to give up the plot.
Many of those paying their respects said they would prefer something far simpler when their time came.
"I want my ashes scattered over the ocean," said engineer Tang Qinghui, 47, who was repainting the Chinese characters on his grandfather's tomb in gold paint. "But we do this because our parents' generation expected it."
His wife, Liu Shaofen, agreed. "I have told our children that they must not spend money on us like this when we go," she said. "It is better that they spend the money on the living than the dead."
Traditions die hard in China. The lease on her own father's grave in Babaoshan is due for renewal in three years, but there was no question of allowing it to lapse. "For Chinese people, this is the way we show respect for our parents," she said.
中国殡葬业暴利引发不满
随着中国人在一年一度的清明节期间祭祀先人，公墓及殡葬服务价格暴涨成为激起民愤的一个焦点问题。哈尔滨一家报纸报道说，每平方米墓地的价格甚至超过了豪华公寓。
这个话题也在今年召开的全国人大会议上被提及，有代表抱怨骨灰盒比电视机贵、墓地比住房贵的疯狂现象。
国家将在今年开设首批"福利"公墓，其中骨灰盒和墓碑的价格将不超过4238元，一家上海陵园推出价值一千多元的"生态墓穴"。
不过，在最炙手可热的墓地，例如北京的八宝山公墓，一块墓穴"出租"20年的起价为每平方米7万元人民币。期满之后，死者家属还必须续费，否则将面临骨灰被迁出的侮辱。
中国的丧葬费用太高，以至于许多来祭奠亲友的人都表示，希望自己身故后丧事从简。
47岁的工程师唐清辉(音)说："我希望把我的骨灰撒到大海里。"他正在用金粉重描他祖父墓碑上的汉字。"而父辈们则希望我们按老规矩办。"
他的妻子刘绍芬(音)也表示赞同。她说："我已经跟孩子们说了，等我们死后，他们不必像这样给我们花钱。他们把钱花在活着的人身上，比花在死者身上要好。"
然而在中国，摈弃传统习俗很难。刘绍芬父亲的墓穴--也在八宝山公墓--需要在三年后续租，而终止租赁是不可能的。她说："对中国人来说，这是我们对父母行孝的方式。"
关键字:双语新闻
生词表:
As millions paused to honor their ancestors during the annual Tomb-Sweeping Festival, the increasing cost of cemetery plots and funerals has become a focus of national anger. One newspaper report in the northeastern city of Harbin complained that plots were now costing more per square meter than luxury apartments.
The subject was taken up at the National People's Congress, China's annual parliament, at which delegates complained of urns costing more than television sets and tombs more than houses.
The state will open subsidized cemeteries this year that will sell urns and plaques for a maximum of 4,238 yuan ($620). A Shanghai garden of rest will offer "eco-tombs" for $205.
In the most sought-after graveyards such as Beijing's Babaoshan Cemetery, plots start at a minimum of 70,000 yuan a square meter for 20 years, after which the family of the dead must pay a renewal fee or face the indignity of having to give up the plot.
Many of those paying their respects said they would prefer something far simpler when their time came.
"I want my ashes scattered over the ocean," said engineer Tang Qinghui, 47, who was repainting the Chinese characters on his grandfather's tomb in gold paint. "But we do this because our parents' generation expected it."
His wife, Liu Shaofen, agreed. "I have told our children that they must not spend money on us like this when we go," she said. "It is better that they spend the money on the living than the dead."
Traditions die hard in China. The lease on her own father's grave in Babaoshan is due for renewal in three years, but there was no question of allowing it to lapse. "For Chinese people, this is the way we show respect for our parents," she said.
中国殡葬业暴利引发不满
随着中国人在一年一度的清明节期间祭祀先人，公墓及殡葬服务价格暴涨成为激起民愤的一个焦点问题。哈尔滨一家报纸报道说，每平方米墓地的价格甚至超过了豪华公寓。
这个话题也在今年召开的全国人大会议上被提及，有代表抱怨骨灰盒比电视机贵、墓地比住房贵的疯狂现象。
国家将在今年开设首批"福利"公墓，其中骨灰盒和墓碑的价格将不超过4238元，一家上海陵园推出价值一千多元的"生态墓穴"。
不过，在最炙手可热的墓地，例如北京的八宝山公墓，一块墓穴"出租"20年的起价为每平方米7万元人民币。期满之后，死者家属还必须续费，否则将面临骨灰被迁出的侮辱。
中国的丧葬费用太高，以至于许多来祭奠亲友的人都表示，希望自己身故后丧事从简。
47岁的工程师唐清辉(音)说："我希望把我的骨灰撒到大海里。"他正在用金粉重描他祖父墓碑上的汉字。"而父辈们则希望我们按老规矩办。"
他的妻子刘绍芬(音)也表示赞同。她说："我已经跟孩子们说了，等我们死后，他们不必像这样给我们花钱。他们把钱花在活着的人身上，比花在死者身上要好。"
然而在中国，摈弃传统习俗很难。刘绍芬父亲的墓穴--也在八宝山公墓--需要在三年后续租，而终止租赁是不可能的。她说："对中国人来说，这是我们对父母行孝的方式。"
关键字:双语新闻
生词表:
- northeastern [,nɔ:θ´i:stən]
ad.&a.向东北(的) 六级词汇
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