White-collar workers have discovered a unique way to relieve
stress - they visit graveyards and smell the flowers.
One woman, with the surname Cheng, who works for a website, said
she often visits the Fushou Yuan suburban cemetery in the
spring.
She said: "The environment there is as beautiful as any park, if
not more so. The grass is always green and it is really convenient
for me to get to."
Another office worker, with the surname Zhou, said that in the
past, he and his friends had found it difficult to find a secluded
spot in the city where they could relax and forget about work for a
while. But now, he says, in springtime they simply travel to the
downtown cemetery, which is both spacious and peaceful.
Sun, a 30-something editor with a local publishing house, says
she finds visiting her favorite graveyard quite profound.
"Whenever I am feeling frustrated with work or life, I come here
to the cemetery. The serenity helps me to put things into
perspective," she said.
Sun added that according to one philosopher, if a person has the
courage to die, then he must gain the courage to live a better
life.
The administration responsible for Shanghai's six suburban
cemeteries, says it welcomes the visits by the city's white-collar
workers and says their gates will remain open.
Serene cemeteries
Wang Lan, an executive responsible for Fushou Yuan, said the
city's cemeteries have much to offer visitors, in addition to the
picturesque surroundings.
"Many famous people are buried in our cemeteries, and at Fushou
Yuan we even have a museum to commemorate the lives of some of
them," she said.
Wang said visitors to the museum can see a host of personal
items and memorabilia donated by the families of the late
celebrities.
She said the museum has five different sections, which are
dedicated to deceased martyrs, renowned artists, great literati,
model workers, and those who donated their bodies to the Red
Cross.
Another white-collar worker, surnamed Li, said: "I enjoy
visiting the graveyard because it is very attractive. But if I go
there with friends we are always very quiet as a mark of respect
for the families of the dead."
(China Daily March 22, 2007)