The Ministry of Civil Affairs and the State Forestry
Administration are urging people to abandon what it calls "outdated
practices" on Qingming Day or Tomb-Sweeping Day which are causing
thousands of forest fires around the country every year.
According to the circular, the burning of funerary paper money
caused 2,303 forest fires in 2006, about a third of all accidental
fires and the number is on the rise.
The circular has also ordered fire fighters to be on guard
"round-the-clock" during Tomb-Sweeping day which falls on April 5
this years.
Traditionally, tens of millions of Chinese visit the tombs of
their forbearers around Qingming Day.
The government has advised people to pay their respects to the
departed via the Internet as more on-line funerary sites have
opened.
In 2005, 8.49 million people died in the country, according to
official figures.
(Xinhua News Agency March 27, 2007)