5.4 million Chinese mourn for deceased

Beijing, April 3 (IANS) Over 5.4 million Chinese visited 150 major memorial sites or cemeteries to mourn the deceased on the first day of the tomb-sweeping festival.

The number was 25 percent higher than that of the same period last year, People's Daily quoted an official statement as saying.

Qingming Festival, or Tomb-sweeping Day, falls Wednesday but the public holiday was set to last from Monday to Wednesday.

During the same period, the total population participated in mourning activities was estimated at about 460 million.

A notable tradition of the Qingming Festival is setting symbolic objects alight to pay respects to one's ancestors and departed family members.