Tomb Sweeping Day

The Chinese name for the Day, Qing Ming, literally means "clear and bright", implying the coming of spring. In the old days, people used to celebrate the arrival of spring with dancing and singing, picnics, and kite flying. Colored boiled eggs were cracked to symbolize the opening of life, and the Emperor planted trees on the palace grounds to celebrate the renewing nature of spring.

Tomb Sweeping Day is a day for worshipping the ancestors; people visit the graves of their dearly departed relatives and clean their gravesites. They often burn "ghost money" (for use in the afterworld) for the departed. It falls on April 5 in the Gregorian calendar in most years, April 4 in leap years.

On this date, many Chinese families are seen cleaning and repairing their ancestors' graves and making offerings of flowers, food or paper money, the children fly kites in different shapes, sizes, and colors. It is a symbolic day to remember and respect their forbearers, and to celebrate the continuation of the family lineage. Some believe that the ceremony also placates the spirits of the dead. An interesting modern development is the use of online graveyards and cyber- offerings.

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Contact Information

Tomb Sweeping Day
Various locations across the city
100007 Beijing, SHI

Tel. +861066011122

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