Cover image via Instagram @jonni_long / Josh Awang Lee Facebook
Once a year during Ching Ming, millions of Chinese people come together to visit the resting place of their ancestors to pay their respects as well as to honour the dearly departed
Image via Visit Penang
Also known as Tomb-sweeping Festival in English, relatives and friends would visit the burial ground or columbaria of their late loved ones to clean the graves as well as to provide offerings such as the departed's favourite food, joss sticks, hell notes, and gold bars for the afterlife.
As a Chinese person who celebrates Cheng Beng (as we Hokkiens call it), one of the things I found most intriguing about the festival is the increasingly outlandish paper offerings we'd burn for our ancestors to use in the afterlife
Image via Rice Paper Kite
In the past few years, such paper offerings have evolved beyond basic paper necessities to fit in with the times. Aside from everyday items like clothes and shoes as well as luxury goods like Rolex watches, gold jewellery, and branded handbags, you can also find pretty funky stuff like MacBook Pros, sports cars, mansions with servants, safe deposit boxes, lingerie, and even beauty products.
And yep, they're all made of paper.
Without further ado, here are some of the most outlandish (and sometimes, totally unexpected) things Chinese people burn for their ancestors:
1. A new mansion, complete with servants, a private pool, pets, and at least two sports cars
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Image via Instagram @giinster
Image via Instagram @magurl768
2. Start decorating the new mansion with this furniture starter kit, which comes with a fridge, hi-fi set, washing machine, and a dishwasher they'll probably never use
Image via Instagram @toko_dupa_awi_titipapan
Let's be real. Chinese people don't use dishwashers; we use it to dry our hand-washed plates.
3. A bedroom set with Burberry-esque bedsheets. Fancy.
Image via Instagram @toko_dupa_awi_titipapan
4. Amp up their level of comfort with these luxe massagers
Image via Localiiz
Image via The World of Chinese
5. Tailored suits for the gents, inclusive of designer ties, belts, socks, and matching accessories
Image via Funeral Zone
Image via Another Day in Hong Kong
Image via Instagram @tim.kindberg
6. Pretty blouses for the ladies…
Image via Buddhist Bugs
Image via Buddhist Bugs
7. … And, er, floral lingerie
Image via Jennifer Lim Art
8. Shoes of all kinds. Slippers, sandals, running shoes, sneakers, leather shoes, heels… you name it, they have it.
Image via jamielynnwaters
Image via Instagram @nicholas6897
9. High-end designer bags for the Gucci gang, Gucci gang, Gucci gang, Gucci gang… (sorry)
Image via Localiiz
Image via TallyPress
Image via Instagram @nicolaschoong
10. It's gold or nothing in these fashion accessory sets, which come with all sorts of jewellery, branded wallets and watches, and credit cards for your ancestors to purchase more stuff
Image via Instagram @unspun
Image via Cilisos
11. A solid safe for your ancestors to keep all their valuables in
Image via Localiiz
12. Don't let your ancestors fall behind in the latest technology with the brand-new MacBook Pro…
Image via Taobao
Image via Taobao
13. … and the latest mobile gadgets, complete with charging cables, earphones, SD cards, and even power banks!
Image via Localiiz
Image via Cilisos
14. Your ancestors need to get around in the afterlife too. How about a luxury car for starters? 😀
Image via Facebook
Don't worry if your ancestors can't drive, the car comes with a personal driver AND road tax!
15. Too basic? Consider this life-sized Lamborghini with a customised number plate…
Image via Instagram @jonni_long
Image via 林兆威 Facebook
Image via 林兆威 Facebook
16. … Or a life-sized eight-seater?
Image via 我们是马来西亚人 We are Malaysians Facebook
Image via 我们是马来西亚人 We are Malaysians Facebook
Image via 我们是马来西亚人 We are Malaysians Facebook
It's so big they had to use a lorry to cart it around!
17. If your late loved one is more of a free spirit, maybe these sweet two-wheelers would be a better option
Image via Facebook
Image via Instagram @toko_dupa_awi_titipapan
Image via Facebook
18. Your ancestors will never have to worry about petrol price hikes, coz – well – they have their own petrol station… :p
Image via Instagram @giinster
Image via Lemongrassboy
19. Travel in the afterlife is not just restricted to land. Check out this swanky yacht:
Image via Localiiz
20. Now everyone can fly in the afterlife, especially if you have your own helicopter…
Image via Taobao
21. … Or a private jet!
Image via Instagram @toko_dupa_awi_titipapan
Image via Instagram @giinster
Image via The World of Chinese
Bonus – the afterlife flight package includes flight tickets, passports, travel insurance, traveller's cheque books, public transport tickets, and VIP credit cards. Talk about travelling in style!
22. With an eternity ahead, the dead need some entertainment to fill their days. They may have yet to get Netflix, but satellite service and a home theatre system probably work just as well…
Image via Cilisos
Image via Localiiz
23. Your ancestors will definitely appreciate having these playing cards and mahjong sets when their friends come over
Image via Instagram @toko_dupa_awi_titipapan
Image via Localiiz
Image via Taobao
24. Guess you now know what to burn for an ancestor who loves going to horse races…
Image via Localiiz
25. OMG they have concert tickets. TO WATCH LATE SINGERS.
Image via Facebook
26. Just because they're dead, doesn't mean there's no occasion to pretty up. Here's a vintage beauty kit for your poh poh who can't live without her bedak:
Image via Instagram @blu3seven
Image via Instagram @blaqd09
27. No Sephora? No problem!
Image via The Urban Wire
Image via Our Grandfather Story Facebook
28. Plus an extra comprehensive range of SK-III for both your female and male ancestors
Image via Instagram @chicmonk
29. There's also an assortment of pets for departed loved ones who were pet lovers (pet food included!)
Image via Wanbao
Image via TallyPress
30. Aww… the paper effigy makers have also created toys for those who have passed on too young. :')
Image via Instagram @toko_dupa_awi_titipapan
Image via Cilisos
31. Cigarettes (or cigars and tobacco pipes) for ancestors who couldn't quite shake off the habit in life
Image via Localiiz
Image via The World of Chinese
32. Better make sure their "first aid kit" of traditional ointments and medicines are fully stocked
Image via Cilisos
33. Guys. There's a whole selection of food and drink made out of paper too! For example, Milo and biscuits for tea time…
Image via Poskod.my
34. Canned drinks (yep, alcoholic ones included)
Image via Another Day in Hong Kong
Image via Tallypress
Image via Cilisos
35. High quality liquor with ginseng and abalone
Image via Localiiz
Image via Cilisos
Image via Our Grandfather Story Facebook
36. Roasted meats for your ancestors to feast on day after day
Image via Global Tumbleweed
Image via Cilisos
37. Sushi and lobsters and miscellaneous seafood
Image via Instagram @neojimmy
Image via Another Day in Hong Kong
Image via Taobao
38. There's also McDonald's. With fries and pies and stuff.
Image via Instagram @chicmonk
Image via Localiiz
Image via null
39. Oh, they have chocolates too. Our ancestors sure are living the high life, y'all.
Image via Localiiz
40. After all that delicious food and drink, here's a dental kit for your ancestors to clean their teeth (both real and/or fake)
Image via Localiiz
Image via Tallypress
41. If you're worried that they'll run out of supplies before the next Ching Ming, you might wanna send over some shop lots too
Image via null
Image via null
Image via null
42. And finally, a bank so they'll never run out of funds
Image via Josh Awang Lee Facebook
