Lost in thought a visitor once murmured. “Even in death there is luxury.” Today we find ourselves at the Songhe Mausoleum. It is a place where eternal rest comes at a premium.
The Songhe Mausoleum was founded in 1987. It quickly gained notoriety. Why? Its burial plots cost almost six times more than housing in central Shanghai. Imagine paying 341800 RMB for a 0.6 square meter plot. That is approximately 760000 RMB per square meter. Some netizens lament death as a long term struggle with poverty. One wrote bury me at sea when I die save this money.
But what makes Songhe Mausoleum so special? It is undeniably luxurious. Tomstones can be customized. 24 hour security keeps offerings safe. The landscapes resemble a sprawling city park. You can even visit the graves of eleven notable figures.
The Songhe Mausoleum offers unique services. Staff in military uniforms assist in tending graves. Extra add ons include incense burners and copper angels. Flower rentals provide ongoing revenue. The cemetery defended its prices as fair. It later removed all prices from its website.
China has two types of cemeteries. Public welfare cemeteries serve most residents. Commercial cemeteries like Songhe Mausoleum are businesses. They offer luxurious facilities and customizable options.
Death and respect are linked in Chinese culture. Families visit graves on Qingming Festival. Registering a prestigious plot can be an act of filial piety. It is also a symbol of social status.
Song Qingling’s Mausoleum is another significant site. It is located on Songyuan Road. Before liberation it was the International Cemetery. In 1984 it was renamed Song Ching ling’s Mausoleum.
The mausoleum includes a monument and a square. There is also a statue of Song Ching ling. You can also find Song’s grave and an exhibition room. Lawns and century old trees add to the atmosphere. The mausoleum is both solemn and spectacular. It is a place where eventful history rests.
Song Qingling was born in Shanghai in 1893. She studied in the USA. In 1915 she married Dr Sun Yat sen. She supported him during his fight for democracy. She advocated equality for Chinese women. She was dubbed the Mother of China.
When she died in 1981 her ashes came to Shanghai. They were placed near her parent’s cemetery. The burial ground was renamed in her honor. The Cemetery of Song Qingling is 262 square meters. It is part of the Wanguo Cemetery. A memorial square features her statue. Another statue stands on Lingyuan Avenue. Deng Xiaoping’s words are carved on its back.
The Songhe Mausoleum and Song Qingling’s Mausoleum both offer glimpses into Shanghai’s relationship with memory and respect. One offers luxury in death. The other honors a revolutionary soul. Both invite reflection on life legacy and remembrance. They are places where stories converge. The stories tell of lives lived struggles endured and legacies cherished.