MILLIONS of Chinese observed Qingming Day, the traditional Tomb-sweeping Day, to pay tribute to the dead in various forms around the country Saturday.

The Chinese Tomb-sweeping Day, also known as Qingming Festival, falls on April 5 every year.

In Xi'an and Baoji cities, Shanxi Province, tens of thousands of people from home and abroad attended two separate ceremonies to commemorate Yandi and Huangdi, two legendary founders of the Chinese nation.

Large sums have been spent to build statues and other projects in memory of China's forefathers, and senior local officials always attend the annual memorial ceremonies.

Meanwhile, over 30,000 people including many overseas Chinese visited Hongdong County, Shanxi Province, North China, to look for their ancestral roots.

According to historical records, the government of the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) launched large-scale relocation of people 18 times from 1368 to 1417.

Each time, before they were resettled, people had to first gather in Hongdong County. Many Chinese believe their ancestors came from that county.

In Shanghai, tens of thousands of people, including many students and outside visitors, paid tribute to martyrs who died in wars against foreign invasions and the Kuomintang regime.

In Chongqing, a southwestern municipality, local people did something different, holding a special memorial service, for the third successive year, to remember those who had donated their bodies for medical research. All the donors' names are to be carved on the memorial stones.

Nowadays, many Chinese, especially young people, show their respects to the dead in new ways, such as planting trees or placing flowers in front of tomb stones instead of burning incense.

Some people paid tribute online as many "virtual memorials" have been set up in recent years.

However, some were criticized for using government cars in traveling to sweep the tombs of their family members. The media also blamed some businessmen for selling funeral goods such as paper products of mistresses, cars and cellphones to burn in front of tomb stones. (提供者：draculadepp）

Qing Ming Jie（All Souls' Day）

Qing Ming is a time to remember the dead and the dearly departed. More important, it is a period to honour and to pay respect to one's deceased ancestors and family members. Because it reinforces the ethic of filial piety, Qing Ming is a major Chinese festival.
Literally meaning "clear" (Qing) and "bright" (Ming), this Chinese festival falls in early spring, on the 106th day after the winter solstice. It is a "spring" festival, and it is an occasion for the whole family to leave the home and to sweep the graves of their forebears. Chinese being practical people this sweeping of the graves is given an extended period, that is, 10 days before and after Qing Ming day. Among some dialect groups a whole month is allocated.