Funeral services are divided into basic and non-basic categories; a list of basic services exists, with their fees set by law.

6. Funeral services are divided into basic and non-basic categories; a list of basic services exists, with their fees set by law.

Cost: There is no cost involved. Just spend a few minutes before departure to review the official list.

In plain terms: Transporting, storing, and cremating a body, holding a farewell ceremony, keeping ashes in storage, and eco-friendly burial options — all fall under the national list of basic services. This also includes burial spaces provided by government-run funeral agencies. Prices for these services are strictly regulated by law; no extra fees may be charged outside this list. Before making any arrangements, be sure to confirm which services are considered basic and what the local rates are.

Benefit: All essential funeral services — including body transport, storage, cremation, memorial services, and eco-friendly burial — are included in the official list. Government-run funeral centers also offer designated burial plots under this same list. Their pricing follows legal standards, meaning funeral homes cannot set prices arbitrarily. Non-basic services are defined separately by civil affairs bureaus at or above the prefecture level.

Evidence grade: A

Sources: State Council of China (2026). Funeral Management Regulations (State Council of China Order No. 824, revised and adopted at the 72nd executive meeting of the State Council of China on November 14, 2025, "effective from March 30, 2026"). <https://www.gov.cn/zhengce/zhengceku/202601/content_7054169.htm> Article 5: "Funeral services are divided into basic items and non-basic items. The charging policy is formulated by the State Council of China's development and reform department, the financial department, and the State Council of China's civil affairs departments." "The state formulates a list of basic funeral service items, including the transportation of remains, storage of remains, farewell to remains, cremation of remains, and storage of ashes. Ecological burials and ashes burials provided by government-organized funeral service agencies are included in the list"; Article 50 "Funeral services are subject to list management and dynamic adjustment, and it is prohibited to establish items outside the list and charge fees."

Notes: Provinces, autonomous regions, and municipalities may add extra items to the national list. Always verify which services are classified as basic and what their local pricing is before proceeding. It is perfectly acceptable to want a dignified funeral for a loved one; this guideline does not discourage that. Its sole purpose is to clarify which services are fixed-price basics and which are optional extras. Once this distinction is clear, you can decide where to allocate funds — and avoid unnecessary overcharges during an already difficult time.