Luxury car buried as ancestral offering sparks outrage in China

A shocking display of extravagance has emerged from Hebei province, China, where a family chose to bury a Mercedes-Benz S450L, valued at one million yuan, as a burial item for their ancestors. The incident, captured on video and widely circulated on social media, depicts the luxury vehicle being lowered into a pre-dug grave, resembling a construction site more than a traditional funeral rite.

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A family in Hebei province, China, has buried a Mercedes-Benz S450L valued at one million yuan as a burial item for their ancestors.

The funeral rites were elaborate, with the car draped in red fabric and family representatives filling the grave. Following the ceremony, guests were reportedly given cash gifts of around 500 yuan. This ostentatious display has ignited a fierce debate online, with some defending the act as a demonstration of love and respect for the deceased, while the majority condemn it as outdated, wasteful, and even superstitious.

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The car was covered in red fabric, symbolizing farewell. Afterward, family representatives directly shoveled soil to fill the grave, burying the entire car underground.

Beyond the public outcry, the incident has drawn the attention of local authorities. The family's actions may contravene regulations concerning road traffic, funeral management, and environmental protection. Experts have warned of the long-term environmental risks associated with burying vehicles, citing potential contamination from engine oil, batteries, and heavy metals. Under pressure, the family was compelled to exhume the car, which was found covered in mud, confirming it had been buried for some time. This event highlights a clash between traditional practices and modern societal values, prompting a re-evaluation of funeral customs in contemporary China.

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The way of organizing was criticized by many as ostentatious, wasteful, and even superstitious.