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Over 4 million visit cemeteries nationwide

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2009-03-30 21:54

BEIJING -- More than 4 million people mourned for the deceased at graveyards or memorial parks over the weekend in the run-up to China's traditional Tomb-Sweeping day, the Ministry of Civil Affairs said Monday.

Figures from the ministry's 150 monitoring places nationwide showed memorial sites in the country received some 4.12 million people, up 17.7 percent from the same period of last year.

The ministry said about 5 percent to 11 percent of residents in Beijing, Tianjin, Shanghai and Chongqing cities visited graveyards to honor their deceased ancestors on Saturday and Sunday.

Last year, the government made the Tomb-Sweeping Day an official holiday in response to public demand. It falls on April 4 this year.

As early as mid-March, eight Chinese ministries, including those of civil affairs, public security, transport and forestry, have urged redoubled efforts to prevent accidents such as fires and stampedes.

The precautions were made because the Chinese traditionally burn incense sticks and paper money for the deceased when visiting the cemeteries.

The ministry expected large crowds on April 4 and urged people to visit cemeteries before or after the Tomb-Sweeping day. The Civil Affairs Ministry estimated more than 100 million people turned out for memorial activities last year.