Buy and Burn a Villa for 16,000 Kuai

The Tomb-Sweeping Festival has finally arrived after a grueling seven-day work week. While most of us have nothing more in mind than a lot of sleeping and enjoying some sunshine, others are planning on spending some big bucks over the holiday.

Qingming Jie (清明节) is the traditional festival day where families pay their respects to the dearly departed by setting alight "joss," or paper representations of the riches that the deceased can enjoy in the afterlife. These replicas range from clothes to iPhones to model homes. And while these are all made entirely of paper, and will only last as long as the match takes to light, some are astonishingly expensive. Paper villas are selling for up to RMB 16,000 on Taobao, while joss cars or golf clubs can cost several thousand kuai. If you prefer to stay up-to-date with the latest technology, a paper iPad2 or iPhone 4 can be had for the bargain price of RMB 438 and RMB 388, respectively.

Now perhaps those prices are a bit much – you're filial but unwilling to see all your hard-earned cash go up in smoke. Or you'd rather give something with more personal touch. In that case, why not try making your own joss offerings? With just a little searching, you can easily learn how to make boats or a more modest house. If your deceased ancestors were never all that materialistic to begin with, perhaps they'd be pleased to receive some snowflakes or flowers?

Before you buy, have a look at George Ding’s hard-hitting exposé on the inflationary effect these costly gifts are having on the afterlife.

Photos: Flickr.com, Taobao.com