Beijing : In China, a longstanding tradition mandates that individuals secure burial plots before their death, placing a financial burden on their families if they fail to do so. This practice, deeply embedded in Chinese culture, has significant economic implications as the cost of graveyard real estate continues to soar.

Traditionally, acquiring a burial plot in China has always been expensive. However, in the past three decades, prices have surged exponentially. This rise can be attributed to a combination of factors, including population growth, increased wages, and the entry of real estate developers into the cemetery business.

The Covid-19 pandemic and other infectious diseases have exacerbated the situation by increasing the death toll, further driving up demand for cemetery land. As the need for burial plots grows, prices continue to rise, highlighting the intersection of cultural practices, economic factors, and public health crises.

Amid China's economic downturn and plunging property prices, city investment companies have turned to cemeteries as a profitable venture. Reports indicate that investment companies in provinces such as Jiangxi, Hunan, and Inner Mongolia have been channeling funds into cemetery projects since 2020. These investments are seen as stable, low-risk, and capable of generating steady cash flow.

An official from a city investment company, experienced in cemetery projects, noted the increasing trend of local companies holding cemetery assets. Unlike other investments, cemetery projects require smaller investments and benefit from special bonds and other funding channels. According to a research report by the China Academy of Economics and Industry Research, the domestic funeral service market has grown rapidly, from 169.50 billion yuan (approximately $24.4 billion) in 2015 to 310.10 billion yuan ($42.8 billion) in 2022, with an average annual growth rate of 9.02%.

Reports of exorbitant cemetery prices have emerged, particularly in first and second-tier cities. Some families, unable to afford traditional burial plots, have resorted to buying houses in smaller cities to store cremation urns, known as "Bone-Ash Houses." This trend has sparked criticism, with some accusing authorities of exploiting both the living and the dead for financial gain.

The rising cemetery prices also raise questions about the true death toll in China. Observers suspect that Chinese authorities may be concealing the actual number of deaths, particularly during the pandemic. For instance, in January 2023, The Epoch Times reported that Falun Dafa founder Master Li Hongzhi claimed the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) had been covering up the epidemic, resulting in 400 million deaths. This figure, when combined with ongoing fatalities, could potentially reach 500 million.

Public skepticism grew when the Zhejiang provincial Department of Civil Affairs reported a 72.7% year-on-year increase in cremations for the first quarter of 2023, only to quickly delete the data. Such actions have fueled further doubts about the transparency of death statistics in China.

The economic downturn, coupled with concealed death rates, casts a shadow over the booming cemetery market. While the demand for burial plots remains high, the ethical implications of profiting from the deceased raise serious concerns. The sustainability of this trend is uncertain, especially as public scrutiny intensifies.

In conclusion, the surge in cemetery land prices in China underscores the complex interplay of cultural traditions, economic pressures, and public health crises. As the country grapples with these challenges, the ethical and practical implications of this burgeoning market will continue to be a topic of intense debate and scrutiny.