Each year, the Chinese set aside one special day dedicated to the commemoration of their deceased ancestors. Known as the Qingming festival, or "tomb sweeping day," this neat (no pun intended) festival has been observed for more than 2,500 years on the 104th day after the winter solstice (usually April 5, or April 4 on leap years). It was originally established by a Chinese emperor in memory of a loyal official who sacrificed himself to save the emperor's life.
In its present incarnation, the Qingming festival, from qingming meaning "clear bright," is generally a celebration of life and Spring, marking the beginning of planting season and other outdoor activities such as kite flying. Because the Chinese believe that the spirits of deceased ancestors look after the family, Tomb Sweeping Day is also a day to honor past ancestors - to visit family graves and clean up the underbrush, sweep away the dirt, leave offerings and pay their respects. Many turn the day into a gravesite picnic.
While today marks the actual Qingming festival, tomb sweeping generally occurs over a two-week period each Spring. Beijing becomes especially crowded as more than 100,000 visitors flock in a single day to Babaoshan, Beijing's most famous cemetery, to pay their respects. In total, more than 1 million tomb sweepers participate in Beijing's cemeteries each year.
For those who can't make the pilgrimage, cyber tombs offer the chance to leave a message online or light a candle online. The largest such online memorial in China is the Netor Memorial, which hosts virtual caskets, graveyards and family trees.
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