Thursday No Suzhou tombs for non-locals

While millions of visitors from neighboring cities swarmed into Suzhou, Jiangsu province, during the holiday to sweep tombs, people are finding it increasingly hard to buy new tombs there following a policy banning non-locals from buying space in public cemeteries.

The civil affairs bureau said the policy was not exactly new but a reiteration due to the shortage of tomb places. The aging population and urbanization have caused the shortage and sent prices soaring. The city reportedly aims to bring down the price of tombs, the average price for which was $17,420 (120,000 yuan) per square meter in 2016.

The civil affairs bureau estimated that 6 million people from other cities visited during the holiday to pay tribute to relatives buried in Suzhou. (Photo 4)

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