A group green burial ceremony is held in the Changqingyuan cemetery in Beijing on March 25, 2017. [Photo: The Beijing News]

Green burials are being offered free of charge for the first time in Beijing.

The cost of each burial, 4,000 yuan (USD 581), is being covered by the government, reports the Beijing Evening News.

31 burials took place under the scheme on Saturday at Changqingyuan cemetery in Chaoyang district in Beijing.

Green burial, or natural burial, sees the deceased's ashes placed in a specially made container. The ashes are left to decompose into the land which takes about six months. In the burial area, there are no hard graves or gravestones. This burial method is seen as returning the body to nature. Officials say the practice can help avoid the waste of social and natural resources.

No signs in the green burial area

During Saturday's burials, the atmosphere in the cemetery was quiet, solemn and gentle. With the white ash containers in hand, concierge staff walked to the burial area where 31 holes had been prepared. Placing the containers into the holes, the staff members then covered them with grass. The whole process was watched over by some 100 relatives and friends of the deceased. Some threw chrysanthemum onto the patch of land as a final farewell.

As there are no signs in this part of the ceremony, there is no way for relatives to know where to find the ashes of their loved ones. The burial area looks like an ordinary piece of grassland. 

A group green burial ceremony is held in the Changqingyuan cemetery in Beijing on March 25, 2017. [Photo: The Beijing News]

Commemorative plate for relatives

After the burial ceremony, relatives get a commemorative plaque bearing the name of the deceased. Scanning the QR code on the plate, relatives can access photos, videos, and biographical details of the deceased, to act as a memorial for the relatives.

Payment is made by government

Starting from March 25, 2017, the cost of green burials is completely covered by the government. In addition to the Changqingyuan cemetery, the Taiziyu cemetery in Beijing can also be used for green burials.

According to staff members in the Changqingyuan cemetery, 10 casks of ashes can be placed in one square meter, ten times more than with traditional tombs.

People sweeping tombs in the Babaoshan cemetery in Beijing on March 25, 2017. [Photo: Beijing Evening News]

My partner stays here

85-year-old Chen Xianfang is content with the commemorative plaque on which his partner's name written. He said that there was no need to keep the ashes, but he still wanted to keep her in mind.

"The green burial is for the deceased to return to nature, and we get peace of mind." said Chen.