Making the choice
Begin with wishes and beliefs.
If your loved one left instructions, these provide an important starting point. Otherwise, the family may consider religious guidance, ancestral practice, cost, location and how they wish to remember them.
There is no single choice that applies to every Chinese family.
Traditional burial
A place for continuing remembrance.
Burial can provide a physical grave for family visits and future memorial observances. Arrangements may include cemetery selection, grave purchase, interment fees, memorial rules and ceremonial timing.
Residency rules, grave availability and cemetery regulations vary and will be confirmed before booking.
Cremation
Ceremony before the committal.
A complete Chinese, Taoist or Buddhist ceremony can take place before cremation. Prayers or rites may also accompany the committal, subject to crematorium rules and available time.
The family can later choose how ashes are collected, kept, interred or memorialised.
Traditional rites
Tradition can accompany either choice.
Offerings, chanting, purification, coffin-closing and procession rites can be adapted for burial or cremation. Hinzen’s ministers will explain what is appropriate and what the venue permits.
Everlay coordinates ceremonial timings with transport and venue bookings.
Costs and locations
Understand the full quotation.
Burial may involve plot, interment, grave preparation and memorial costs. Cremation involves crematorium fees and may include additional memorial or ashes arrangements.
All third-party fees and any long-distance requirements will be shown separately in the quotation.
Frequently asked questions
Clear answers,
without assumptions.
Can a traditional Chinese funeral end with cremation?+
Yes. Traditional ceremonies can be coordinated with cremation.
Is burial required for a Taoist funeral?+
Not in every case. The family and ministers should discuss beliefs and wishes.
Can prayers take place at the crematorium?+
Often yes, subject to the venue’s time and safety rules.
What can happen to the ashes?+
Options can include keeping, interment, scattering or a memorial, subject to law and venue rules.
Which option costs more?+
It depends on local burial plots, interment and crematorium fees as well as the chosen funeral arrangements.
When you are ready
Begin with a
calm conversation.
You do not need to understand every tradition or have every detail decided. Tell us about your family, where the funeral will take place and what matters to you. Everlay and Hinzen will explain the options and coordinate the arrangements with care.
For requests outside the London region, additional travel and accommodation costs may apply. Please contact us for a tailored quotation.
Speak to the Everlay team →