Kunming, China Cemetery Posts Payment Notices on Tombstones, Sparking Controversy Over Management Fees
At the "Jinbaoshan Art Garden" cemetery in Kunming, China, an incident occurred where notices for overdue management fees were affixed to tombstones, causing a stir. A family member visiting to pay respects posted a video of the scene, which then spread online.
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- 📰 Published: April 6, 2026 at 19:21
- 🔍 Collected: April 6, 2026 at 23:28 (4h 7m after Published)
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: April 7, 2026 at 00:23 (55 min after Collected)
According to Chinese media reports including Jimu News, a Chinese netizen in Kunming uploaded a short video on the 5th, showing that when he went to the "Jinbaoshan Art Garden" cemetery in Kunming to pay respects to his ancestors, he was stunned to find a notice of overdue fees pasted on the tombstone.
According to the footage, the overdue notice stated: "The management fee for the plot used by your relative is overdue, and your contact information has changed, making it impossible to contact you." It urged the family to "promptly contact the cemetery to handle the renewal of management fees. If the management fees are not paid within 6 months, relevant regulations will be enforced in accordance with Article 20 of the 'Yunnan Provincial Cemetery Management Regulations' concerning tomb maintenance fees."
However, this overdue notice did not bear the official seal of the management unit, unlike many official announcements and documents in China.
The report pointed out that, according to the "Yunnan Provincial Cemetery Management Regulations," management fees can be paid either in a lump sum by the plot renter or annually. If a person who pays annual maintenance fees fails to pay for three consecutive years, and after the cemetery unit sends a letter or publishes an announcement, still fails to pay within three months, the tomb will be treated as an "unclaimed tomb."
According to reports, in response to public questions about "posting notices to urge payment" of management fees to the deceased's family, a cemetery staff member explained that the management fees are mainly used for greenery, cleaning, and security, and can be paid in a lump sum or in installments. If payments are overdue, the cemetery usually first contacts the family by phone, and "only if they cannot be reached will notices be posted," after which payment can be made up.
Many Chinese netizens questioned that with many young and middle-aged people being only children and unmarried today, the deceased might not have descendants, leading to a predicament where no one pays the cemetery management fees. The cemetery staff responded that they have not encountered such a situation yet.
Other netizens commented that posting notices to urge payment is "too unethical," as respect for the deceased is paramount, and such notices "humiliate both ancestors and descendants." Some also questioned whether there couldn't be a more appropriate way to urge payment. However, some netizens also believed that the person who filmed the video also had a problem, and failing to pay overdue fees is also disrespectful to ancestors. (Edited by Chiu Kuo-chiang / Chen Yen-chun) 1150406
According to the footage, the overdue notice stated: "The management fee for the plot used by your relative is overdue, and your contact information has changed, making it impossible to contact you." It urged the family to "promptly contact the cemetery to handle the renewal of management fees. If the management fees are not paid within 6 months, relevant regulations will be enforced in accordance with Article 20 of the 'Yunnan Provincial Cemetery Management Regulations' concerning tomb maintenance fees."
However, this overdue notice did not bear the official seal of the management unit, unlike many official announcements and documents in China.
The report pointed out that, according to the "Yunnan Provincial Cemetery Management Regulations," management fees can be paid either in a lump sum by the plot renter or annually. If a person who pays annual maintenance fees fails to pay for three consecutive years, and after the cemetery unit sends a letter or publishes an announcement, still fails to pay within three months, the tomb will be treated as an "unclaimed tomb."
According to reports, in response to public questions about "posting notices to urge payment" of management fees to the deceased's family, a cemetery staff member explained that the management fees are mainly used for greenery, cleaning, and security, and can be paid in a lump sum or in installments. If payments are overdue, the cemetery usually first contacts the family by phone, and "only if they cannot be reached will notices be posted," after which payment can be made up.
Many Chinese netizens questioned that with many young and middle-aged people being only children and unmarried today, the deceased might not have descendants, leading to a predicament where no one pays the cemetery management fees. The cemetery staff responded that they have not encountered such a situation yet.
Other netizens commented that posting notices to urge payment is "too unethical," as respect for the deceased is paramount, and such notices "humiliate both ancestors and descendants." Some also questioned whether there couldn't be a more appropriate way to urge payment. However, some netizens also believed that the person who filmed the video also had a problem, and failing to pay overdue fees is also disrespectful to ancestors. (Edited by Chiu Kuo-chiang / Chen Yen-chun) 1150406