Ecological burial—honoring life! Nanjing pioneers the “Life Crystal Jade” eco‑burial.

On April 2, Nanjing’s first “Life Crystal Jade” eco‑burial method was launched at Yuhua Gongde Garden. At the ceremony, Chinese organ donation volunteers Zhao Rujun and Zhang Yefeng were presented with two Life Crystal Jade burial plots.

“Life Crystal Jade” is a structurally stable crystalline form of cremated remains, produced through advanced technology by subjecting the ashes to high‑temperature combustion at approximately 1,700 degrees Celsius, followed by natural cooling. It is resistant to moisture and weathering, ensuring long‑term preservation. According to reports, this process requires the consent of the family and the signing of an agreement, and family members may observe the entire procedure.

Li Jian, Secretary-General of the Nanjing Red Cross Society, presented Zhao Rujun and his wife with the Certificate of Voluntary Registration for Human Organ Donation in China. Li Jian stated that their selfless compassion has exemplified the noble Red Cross spirit of “humanity, fraternity, and dedication.”

With the introduction of supporting policies such as subsidies for eco‑friendly burial, Jiangsu Province has seen a steady rise in the rate of space‑saving, eco‑friendly burials, and civilized funeral practices have become increasingly widespread. This year, the province’s rate of such burials is expected to reach 80 percent. “Life Crystal Jade” addresses the drawback of bulky cremated remains, making space‑efficient, eco‑friendly interment feasible. With its aesthetically pleasing form and color, it helps alleviate the feelings of oppression and fear that people often experience when confronted with ashes. Moreover, Life Crystal Jade can be crafted into wearable keepsakes, offering a personal way to honor loved ones even after they are gone.

In the Osmanthus Garden of Yuhua Gongde Park, a pair of giant butterfly sculptures stands proudly amid the flowerbeds. The site also bears a poetic name—“Butterflies in Love with Flowers”—and will serve as the final resting place for Life Crystal Jade Burials. According to estimates, with a footprint of 48 square meters, the area can accommodate 88 Life Crystal Jade Burials, 189 double‑cavity wall niches, and 123 small eco‑friendly double‑cavity burial plots, making it highly land‑efficient.

The head of the Nanjing Municipal Funeral Management Office stated that ecological burial is a low-carbon, eco-friendly, environmentally sustainable, and land‑saving approach that honors life in its highest form. Currently, various regions have adopted ecological burial methods such as lawn burial, water burial, and tree burial. The introduction of “Life Crystal Jade” holds significant importance, particularly given the pressing constraints posed by the scarcity of land.

According to the director of Yuhua Merit Garden, a crystal‑jade burial costs 3,800 yuan per plot, while the minimum price for having a single crystal jade plaque pressed is 580 yuan. Over the years, the garden has maintained a park‑like setting and human‑centered services, helping to overcome the common perception that eco‑burials are well‑received in principle but fail to attract customers. The garden’s “Sent-down Youth Culture Wall” has become Nanjing’s first “Memory Corridor,” dedicated to the city’s 200,000 sent‑down youth. Moreover, the entire perimeter wall of the cemetery has been converted into a wall‑burial system, with a capacity equivalent to that of 100 mu of land. Thanks to eco‑friendly burial practices, the cemetery can continue operating for at least another two decades; and compared with traditional burial plots, which often cost hundreds of thousands of yuan, the more affordable pricing also helps drive greater acceptance of eco‑burials.

From a niche practice to a province-wide 50% rate of space‑saving burials, Jiangsu has spent more than a decade making this transition; yet the adoption of eco‑friendly burial methods that do not retain ashes will remain a long‑term endeavor. Prioritizing ecological sustainability and respectful life‑cycle rituals will ultimately be the overarching goal of green funeral practices.