Home>>Life
Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Saturday, September 14, 2002

Funeral industry attracts college graduates

Everyone must die one day, and thus the funeral industry is eternal by nature. In China, this eternal activity is getting a breath of fresh air from new industry trends.


PRINT DISCUSSION CHINESE SEND TO FRIEND


Everyone must die one day, and thus the funeral industry is eternal by nature. In China, this eternal activity is getting a breath of fresh air from new industry trends.

Since the majority of Chinese people have long held traditional beliefs that work related to the dead may bring bad luck, there has been a tendency, especially for college graduates, to avoid this type of work.

"Prior to 1998, single persons did not apply for work here," commented one senior employee in one of Beijing's funeral parlors.He added that, as is customary in the industry, his father handed this job down to him.

Recently, however, the industry has been undergoing changes. Several universities in central China's Hunan Province have begun to offer courses on funeral services. Many college students, including those from prestigious universities such as Peking University and the People's University, have been attracted by opportunities in the industry.

Some experts say that funeral services have improved and becomemore profitable in recent years.

The funeral service industry in Beijing has begun providing newcremation bone-ash burial services, for example, burial under a tree or burial at sea, to make the industry more environment friendly.

In addition, a 24-hour hotline was set up in 2000 by the Beijing Funeral Service Center. Through a simple phone call, individuals can seek assistance for all funeral arrangements.

In an effort to offer more options to clients, funeral parlors in Beijing are now offering the use of luxury cars, such as Cadillacs, as hearses at a cost of approximately 2,000 yuan (about241 US dollars).

Beijing's funeral service industry is expected to earn some 1 billion yuan (about 120.48 million US dollars) in profits annually,as about 70,000 people die each year in the city.


Questions?Comments? Click here
    Advanced








 


Japanese Court Dismisses Germ Warfare Victims' Damages Claim ( 94 Messages)

China Plans to Stop the Overeas Flight of Corrupt Officials ( 69 Messages)

China Blocks the Way of Corrupt Officials Fleeing Overseas ( 5 Messages)

Survey Discloses Bad Service of Domestic Banks ( 4 Messages)

Quantitative Study Uncovers US Media Blackout: China Youth Daily ( 25 Messages)



Copyright by People's Daily Online, all rights reserved