Qingming Festival falls every year in early April and is not only a day for mourning the dead. It corresponds with the onset of warmer weather, the start of spring plowing, and of family outings. This year China has made the occasion an official holiday, in an attempt to revive the traditions associated with the festival.

A man ties a strip of yellow cloth on a tree to express his grief and remembrance for his lost relatives.(Photo: CCTV.com)

Qingming Festival, which means clear and bright, is also known as Tomb Sweeping Day. People visit their ancestors' graves on this day to tidy them up, remove weeds and sweep away leaves.

Trees full of yellow ribbons(Photo: CCTV.com)

This year's Qingming Festival falls on April 4th. In cemeteries in suburban Shanghai, people tie strips of yellow cloth on trees to express their grief and remembrance for their lost relatives.