(Yicai Global) April 6 -- Yesterday was Qingming, or Tomb Sweeping Day, in China. Amid the resurgence of Covid-19 in the country, many Chinese paid homage to their ancestors this year with the help of internet-based rituals or by using paid valets to attend gravesides in their place, accelerating the digitization of funery services.

More people took advantage of online tomb-sweeping services during Qingming this year (April 3 to April 5) than those who visited their ancestors’ final resting places in person, according to the Ministry of Civil Affairs.

The numbers visiting in person plunged 74 percent from a year ago to 17.54 million, while 21.56 million used online services, a 192 percent surge, the ministry’s data showed.

For CNY35 to CNY300 (USD5.50 to USD47.15), cemeteries in Shanghai, Suzhou, Chongqing, and Xi’an offered through WeChat to clean tombstones, place flowers, burn incense, and take photos on behalf of absent relatives. Some also provided online memorials, remote farewell ceremonies and digital souvenirs.

Sources in the funery business said these services help to curb the transmission of Covid-19 by limiting physical contact and force providers to become more eco-friendly.

Fu Shou Yuan International Group, a Shanghai-based cemetery and funery services business, started a valet tomb sweeping service in 2007, mainly for people away overseas and the elderly, Sun Yi, assistant to the firm’s general manager, told Yicai Global.

Based in Qingpu district, Fu Shou Yuan received more than 2,000 valet tomb-sweeping orders from the middle of last month, and the number has been rising. Fulfilling each order takes about 10 to 15 minutes, with 33 teams of over 60 staff at work during the busiest time.

Editor: Peter Thomas