"And there are so many family cemeteries that cost more than 1 million yuan. I don't understand why people are singling out our cemetery.

"We just want to show our respect to my mother, especially since we can afford it."

Liu's Family Cemetery has caused quite a stir among the public after photographs were recently posted on the Internet.

"People can do whatever they want with their cemetery as long it is legal and they can afford it," a netizen commented.

Some said the cemetery cost too much and occupied too much land, adding that an end should be put to such a practice.

"The law doesn't stipulate a limit on the size of cemeteries as long as it is legal," said Shi Tie'er, director of the social work department of the Changsha Social Work College.

"But it definitely sets a bad example when officials spend so much money to build such big and expensive cemeteries. The practice needs to be discouraged," Shi said, adding people should spend money on their loved ones while they are alive, not dead.