清明临近 哈尔滨为改善空气质量禁烧冥币

Joss paper, also known as ghost money, is lit ablaze during funerals and other ceremonies, and is intended to symbolize currency for the deceased person in the afterlife.

纸钱，也称冥币，是葬礼和其他仪式上焚烧的一种纸张，用来代表逝者在极乐世界使用的货币。

The government of Harbin, Heilongjiang, said it is a “feudal superstition”.

黑龙江省哈尔滨市政府近日表示，焚烧纸钱是一种"封建迷信"。

In a statement on its website, the government banned the burning, production and selling of joss paper for the 9.6 million people who live in the city and surrounding rural areas.

哈尔滨市政府在其官网发布声明，禁止居住在市区及周边农村地区的960万居民焚烧、生产和销售纸钱。

The ban will "eradicate bad funeral practices, advocate civilized ancestor worship, and purify the urban environment," the statement said.

声明称，该禁令将"革除丧葬陋习、倡导文明祭祖、净化城市环境"。

Any individuals caught burning joss paper will receive fines of at least 200 yuan, and those found producing or selling the paper will be fined 500 yuan or more.

任何被发现焚烧纸钱的个人将被处以至少200元的罚款，生产或销售纸钱将被处以至少500元的罚款。

The government should control rather than ban the burning of joss paper, said Tian Zhaoyuan, deputy dean of the School of Social Development at East China Normal University, also in Shanghai.

上海华东师范大学社会发展学院副院长田兆元称，政府应该控制而不是禁止焚烧纸钱。

The ban comes ahead of the traditional Tomb-Sweeping Festival holiday, when many Chinese visit the graves of their forbears and perform rituals such as burning joss paper.

禁令在传统清明节假期前出台，许多中国人会在此期间拜谒祖先的墓地，并进行烧纸钱等仪式。