As March 29 and 30 is the last two-day weekend before Chinese Tomb-Sweeping Day, many people offered sacrifice to their ancestors and swept their tombs in advance on these days. On March 30 alone, the sacrifice places in Guangzhou embraced nearly 90,000 persons. According to the statistics by the Civil Affairs Authorities, the number of persons offering sacrifices this year increased by approximately 30 percent over last year, up to the end of March, with a preliminary effect of peak-time offerings.

The person in charge of the Tomb-Sweeping Day sacrifices said that due to minor peak times during the two-day weekend, the number of peak-time visitors will ease traffic during the Tomb-sweeping Day period of April 4, 5 and 6. On one hand, this is effect of the publicity of peak shift sacrifices by Guangzhou Government and the media. And on the other hand this Tomb-Sweeping Day is the first 3-day holiday during which some people may plan to take a tour. Therefore, many people opted to offer their sacrifices and swept the tombs in advance.

In reply to the possible rainy days on the Tomb-sweeping Day, Guangzhou Crematorium had prepared 35 canopies and 2,100 umbrellas to facilitate the offerings and tomb-sweepings of the visitors. A person in charge said "We will provide umbrellas to the people on-site in case of heavy rain".

(Translated by Guangzhou Association of Foreign Affairs Translators)

Source : english.gz.gov.cn