Published: 12:00pm, 3 Oct, 2018 Updated: 10:03pm, 3 Oct, 2018
Funeral costs in cemeteries have risen around 40 % between 2015 and 2018 , to more than CNY100,000 ( $ 14,556 ) , vastly outpacing housing costs , which increased 23 % in the same decade . As funds used for cemeteries are set to be exhausted by 2020 , Beijing authorities are taking measures to ensure prices do n't spiral further . They include limiting the size of a niche where burial urns are placed , and actively promoting burials at sea , as well as the construction of multi - storey columbariums , which house the niches . In addition , the government is also cracking down on unscrupulous companies illegally selling burials in columbariums .