Martyrs and virus victims honored at cemetery commemorations
Soldiers lay a floral tribute at the Longhua Martyrs' Cemetery.
Volunteers lay floral tributes at the Longhua Martyrs' Cemetery.
Cemeteries in Shanghai hosted commemorative events on Saturday morning to mourn martyrs in epidemic fight and those who have died in the COVID-19 outbreak.
At the Longhua Martyrs' Cemetery in Xuhui District, the Chinese national flag flew at half-mast and flowers were laid at its monument square to mourn martyrs who sacrificed their lives fighting the coronavirus outbreak, as well as compatriots who died of the disease.
At 10am, people observed three minutes silence at the cemetery.
Rather than a large event, it was only attended by cemetery workers and volunteers to prevent spread of the virus.
Han Shiliang, a project manager and architect of the First Engineering Co Ltd of China Construction Third Bureau, arrived at the cemetery at 7:30am in preparation to work as a volunteer.
On the second day of the Chinese Lunar New Year holiday, he went to Wuhan, once the epicenter of the novel coronavirus outbreak, from Shanghai to assist in the construction of Leishenshan Hospital.
He spent half a month there, working overnight several times distributing preventative items.
"It is heartbreaking when I remember all the time I spent in Wuhan," he told Shanghai Daily. "My heart is with people there even when in Shanghai."
Volunteers observe three minutes silence at the Longhua Martyrs' Cemetery.
Officers lay floral tributes at the Fushouyuan Cemetery.
Online events such as live broadcasts of tomb sweeping, virtual visits to martyrs' hometowns, and lectures on the tradition of the Qingming Festival are being organized by the martyrs' cemetery.
Qingming, which falls on April 4 this year, is a traditional time for Chinese people to clean family tombs and pay tribute to their ancestors.
At the Fushouyuan Cemetery in Qingpu District, funeral orations were read to mourn for martyrs and COVID-19 victims on Saturday morning.
Traditional rituals such as bowing, laying flowers, serving teas and willow picking to signify departure were followed. The online live broadcast of the commemorative event attracted about 12,000 viewers.
A staffer pours tea at the Fushouyuan Cemetery.
A salute for the dead at the Fushouyuan Cemetery
