Sea burials change old customs

Yantai (CNS) -- A growing number of people in China and around the world are accepting sea burials as a pollution-free manner of scattering ashes or a way to avoid gobbling up the ever-shrinking land space around cities as traditional cemetaries unfortunately do. A reporter learnt how Yantai, a coastal city in Shandong Province, is accommodating people who accept the new option.

Not only local residents, but also people from Shanghai, Beijing and other areas come all the way to the coast to release the ashes of their relatives onto the waves, said Ni Xi, who works for a local tourism company.

Ni said as Tomb Sweeping Day approaches, their company has a noticable increase in customers who want to conduct a sea burial for a deceased family member.

Xu Jing, a local Yantai citizen, confesses deep feelings for the sea that developed as he grew up near the water. He particularly appreciates the green burial option, saying if you choose a sea burial, no matter where you go, you can mourn your loss love ones by facing out to sea.