A seminar on innovative management and service practices at the Qingdao Municipal Funeral Home was recently held.

On June 4, 2021, the “Qingdao Municipal Funeral Home Seminar on Innovative Management and Service Practices” was held at the municipal funeral home. The meeting was attended by 18 participants, including Huang Zhen, Director of the Social Affairs Division of the Qingdao Civil Affairs Bureau, directors of various funeral homes, representatives from several funeral equipment manufacturers, and staff from the association’s secretariat. The seminar was organized by the Social Affairs Division and co-hosted by the association and the municipal funeral home.

The meeting organized a visit to the municipal funeral home, where participants observed the significant achievements attained through innovative management and services. They also heard an experience-sharing presentation by Zhang Yongcai, Director of the Municipal Funeral Services Center, followed by extensive and in-depth discussions and exchanges tailored to the practical realities of each funeral home.

In recent years, the Municipal Funeral Home has thoroughly implemented the government’s policies to provide affordable funeral services, boldly innovated its management and service delivery, and undergone profound transformation. Significant progress has been made in infrastructure, organizational development, ideological education, and work style improvement, making outstanding contributions to the advancement of the funeral industry. Grounded in practical realities yet with an eye to the long term, the institution has striven to build a high‑quality, modern funeral facility. It has invested considerable effort in the three key areas of “funeral services, burial, and memorial rites,” offering distinctive “people‑friendly, convenient” services. Its facilities—such as a civilized memorial site, a uniquely designed family memorial hall, an eco‑friendly burial zone, and a comprehensive service area—left a deep impression on attendees. Notably, the eco‑friendly burial zone encompasses a variety of interment options, including tree burial, flower burial, lawn burial, and scattering, allowing clients to choose according to their preferences. The specialized family memorial hall, introduced following the implementation of Qingdao City’s Regulations Prohibiting the Burning or Scattering of Funeral and Memorial Items, represents a brand‑new service designed to meet the public’s needs for respectful remembrance.

During the seminar, Director Huang Zhen clarified the purpose of the meeting and addressed key strategic issues related to the construction and development of funeral homes. He also set forth requirements for the management of funeral vehicles, the advancement of information technology, and other specific tasks.

At the seminar, Yang Chunshui and Sun Yonglin each delivered remarks, offering recommendations on drawing on the experiences of municipal funeral service institutions and advancing the development of the funeral industry. They expressed the hope that all members would strengthen communication, deepen mutual understanding, foster synergy, and achieve collective progress, while also extending their gratitude to the Civil Affairs Bureau and all member organizations for their support of the association’s work.