Qingming, also known as Tomb-Sweeping Day, is a traditional Chinese festival when people honor and miss their deceased family members. It’s a time of quiet nostalgia, mixed with the freshness of early spring — a moment to connect with those who’ve passed away, and to hold their memories close.
Living in Yanjiao, east of Beijing, I see the local customs clearly around this time every year. As Qingming approaches, many people here follow the old tradition of burning paper money for the departed. You can see it everywhere: street intersections are filled with vendors who set up small stalls selling paper money, paper ingots, and other ritual offerings. They even prepare iron buckets on the spot, so people can burn the offerings right there safely.
The streets are smoky, the air is thick with the smell of burning paper, and ash floats everywhere. I understand this comes from a place of longing — people believe burning paper money sends wealth and care to their loved ones in the afterlife. It’s a heartfelt tradition, and I respect the love behind it.
But lately, I’ve been thinking differently.
Instead of joining in and burning that so-called ghost money, I choose to express my missing in another way. I write. I write down my thoughts for my father, and for other family members who are no longer here. I record the little things I remember, the words I never got to say, the gratitude I hold, and how much I still miss them.
This way feels quieter, but more sincere to me.
It’s safer — no open flames, no risk of fire, especially during the dry spring days. It’s cleaner — no smoke, no ash covering the streets, no pollution. And it’s much more eco-friendly, protecting the environment we live in.
More importantly, writing keeps memories alive in a real way. Burning paper passes quickly, but the words I write stay. They let me truly talk to my father, to sort out my feelings, and to honor him in a gentle, peaceful way.
Tradition is about love, not just form. This Qingming, I’ll keep writing my thoughts online and in my heart. To me, that’s the most meaningful way to remember.
Bob Date
Yanjiao, Beijing East
April 5th 2026
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I don’t share everything publicly, but I’m always open to sharing more when there’s a genuine connection.