Online Tomb-Sweeping for Qingming: A Preview of the Procedure

Last year’s Qingming Festival fell during a critical period when the entire nation was fighting the epidemic and accelerating the resumption of work and production, making the circumstances markedly different from previous years. Ensuring robust services and safeguards for public tomb-sweeping activities during the holiday is vital to meeting the expectations and needs of the people, safeguarding the overall epidemic-control effort, and upholding social harmony and stability.

On March 13, the Office of the Leading Group (Command Center) for Novel Coronavirus Pneumonia Response in Jinan City promptly issued the “Notice on Strengthening the Management of Tomb-Sweeping Services During the Qingming Festival.” This year, from March 15 to April 15, on-site tomb-sweeping activities will be suspended, and online memorial services are encouraged. The Jinan Civil Affairs Bureau has promptly launched a public‑service online memorial platform, “Cloud Remembrance – Jinan Tomb‑Sweeping Website,” enabling residents to create virtual memorial spaces for their loved ones and conduct online remembrances.

I. Methods of Tomb-Sweeping

01 Online Memorial Services

At midnight on March 26, the online memorial‑service portal will officially open. Citizens can log in to Weibo Jinan, the Jinan Release client, Shunwang, the Ai Jinan news app, the New Times APP, the Tianxia Quancheng news app, the Dingdong FM app, the Jinan Urban Channel, the Ai Chengshi website, Dazhong Daily, Dazhong Net, Haibao News, the Subaо News app, the Jinan Civil Affairs Bureau website, or the “Jinan Heartfelt Civil Affairs” WeChat official account to conduct online memorial services.

02 Offering memorial rites on behalf of others

To meet the needs of some residents, during the Qingming Festival, Jinan Funeral Home, Jinan Second Funeral Home, and the Yingcheng Panlongshan Cemetery Service Center will offer memorial‑service‑by‑proxy activities.

II. Platform Usage Procedure

1. The “Cloud Remembrance – Jinan Online Memorial Service” platform follows the same operating procedure, allowing citizens to log in using their preferred memorial‑service method. For example, via the “Jinan Caring Civil Affairs” WeChat official account, select the “Mobile Services” section, tap “Online Memorial Service,” and enter the platform. The “?” icon leads to the feedback and user‑help page, where citizens can submit their comments and suggestions after use.

2. After the user reads and agrees to the “Platform Rules and Instructions” and completes phone number verification, the system will redirect to the homepage, where the user can select the desired service.

3. For example, select “Cloud Family Memorial,” then click “Add Memorial Hall.” Four scene options are available for users to choose from, including “Mountain View,” “Ocean View,” and “Home Scene,” among others.

4. A memorial hall can accommodate up to four deceased individuals; after selecting the scene, add the names of the deceased in sequence.

5. Share the completed memorial hall to invite family and friends to join in commemorating the deceased.

Friendly Reminder

During Qingming tomb-sweeping, what changes is the form, but what remains unchanged is our remembrance and affection for loved ones—expressed through thoughtful reverence for the deceased and a commitment to upholding fine family traditions and fostering patriotic sentiment. The Jinan Civil Affairs Bureau calls on all citizens to start with themselves and take action, becoming advocates of a new ethos of green, civilized, safe, and frugal mourning practices.