Recent reports have revealed the existence of 35 exclusive, two-story "ancestral tombs" within the Changgeng Ecological Park in Yitong County, Siping City, Jilin Province. Each unit spans over 30 square meters and was previously priced at approximately 2 million yuan, sparking public debate. According to reports, the park, which claims to cover 2,300 acres, is alleged to have illegally constructed oversized, luxurious burial sites, partially encroaching on farmland and forest land.
A staff member at Changgeng Ecological Park informed reporters that five burial areas within the cemetery are currently available for purchase, with prices ranging from over 20,000 yuan to 100,000 yuan. Located north of the Jinxiuyuan section, 35 standalone Chinese-style "residential" tombs are lined up in a row. Each features a pair of drum stones at the entrance, with retro bronze-colored Chinese-style doors adorned with golden animal-head knockers. Park employees confirmed that these tombs consist of two levels, both above and below ground, and were priced around 2 million yuan each, though they are currently not for sale.
Workers at the site, who identified themselves as villagers from the nearby Yongjiu Village, stated that these "residential" tombs are locally referred to as "ancestral tombs." Upon entering one unlocked and unfinished unit, measurements taken with a tape measure showed the structure to be approximately 4.25 meters long, 3.66 meters wide, and 4.5 meters deep, with a total two-level area exceeding 30 square meters.
In recent years, the Ministry of Civil Affairs has repeatedly issued directives strictly prohibiting the construction of oversized tombs and monuments. According to Article 10 of the Jilin Province Funeral Management Measures, the area of a single cremains burial plot must not exceed 1 square meter, while a single corpse burial plot must not exceed 4 square meters, and a double plot must not exceed 6 square meters.
On April 27, a staff member at Jilin Changgeng Ecological Cemetery confirmed that burial plots are still available for purchase, priced from 10,000 yuan to several tens of thousands yuan, each complying with the national standard of 0.8 square meters. Prospective buyers are required to provide cremation certificates. However, the staff member noted that the 2-million-yuan "ancestral tombs" are no longer on sale, though specific details were not provided.
An official from the Siping Civil Affairs Bureau stated that the bureau has sealed the oversized tombs in Changgeng Ecological Park, banning their sale. Constructed tombs have been ordered to be rectified within a specified period. To avoid the waste associated with demolition, the cemetery plans to convert all 35 non-compliant tombs into cremains niches. One such tomb has already been renovated and is now offering free storage for cremated remains.