Millions on mainland celebrate triumphant return of Ching Ming

Provincial governments marked the return of the Ching Ming festival to the official holiday calendar with lavish ceremonies yesterday, while millions of people braved traffic jams to sweep the tombs of their forebears.

Ching Ming is a millennia-old festival during which the living pay tribute to their ancestors in a show of loyalty to family and tradition.

After repeated calls from academia and politicians, Beijing announced in November that it would become a national public holiday to help revive traditional culture, improve national cohesion and maintain stability amid growing discontent brought on by a widening wealth gap and rampant social injustice.

The mainland public and authorities observed the festival with great enthusiasm.

In Beijing, state media reported that more than 600,000 people visited the tombs of their forebears, a more than three-fold increase from the 189,000 people last year.

Shanghai authorities estimated that 250,000 people went to neighbouring cities to pay tribute.