White-collar workers have discovered a unique way to relieve stress - they visit graveyards and smell the flowers.

One woman, with the surname Cheng, who works for a website, said she often visits the Fushou Yuan suburban cemetery in the spring.

She said: "The environment there is as beautiful as any park, if not more so. The grass is always green and it is really convenient for me to get to."

Another office worker, with the surname Zhou, said that in the past, he and his friends had found it difficult to find a secluded spot in the city where they could relax and forget about work for a while. But now, he says, in springtime they simply travel to the downtown cemetery, which is both spacious and peaceful.

Sun, a 30-something editor with a local publishing house, says she finds visiting her favorite graveyard quite profound.

"Whenever I am feeling frustrated with work or life, I come here to the cemetery. The serenity helps me to put things into perspective," she said.

Sun added that according to one philosopher, if a person has the courage to die, then he must gain the courage to live a better life.

The administration responsible for Shanghai's six suburban cemeteries, says it welcomes the visits by the city's white-collar workers and says their gates will remain open.

Serene cemeteries

Wang Lan, an executive responsible for Fushou Yuan, said the city's cemeteries have much to offer visitors, in addition to the picturesque surroundings.

"Many famous people are buried in our cemeteries, and at Fushou Yuan we even have a museum to commemorate the lives of some of them," she said.

Wang said visitors to the museum can see a host of personal items and memorabilia donated by the families of the late celebrities.

She said the museum has five different sections, which are dedicated to deceased martyrs, renowned artists, great literati, model workers, and those who donated their bodies to the Red Cross.

Another white-collar worker, surnamed Li, said: "I enjoy visiting the graveyard because it is very attractive. But if I go there with friends we are always very quiet as a mark of respect for the families of the dead."

(China Daily March 22, 2007)