WildChina’s Beijing office will be closed on Monday, April 5 due to China’s national holiday for Tomb Sweeping Day. The DC office will be open as usual; please send all inquiries to info@wildchina.com.

A Chinese man honors a family member's grave during Tomb Sweeping Festival (Source: China Daily)

Wondering what Tomb Sweeping Festival, known in Chinese as Qingming Jie (清明节), is all about? The celebration is two-fold: firstly, families tend to the graves of their deceased ancestors, and secondly, people celebrate the coming of spring and its accompanying greenery and weather.

Come this Monday, families across China will honor their loved ones with tea, food, wine, and other offerings. If you pass a graveyard, take a minute to observe these traditions. And, don’t forget to enjoy what will hopefully be a nice spring day!