Authorities in Beijing have prohibited the traditional funerary ritual of burning the clothes of relatives who have passed away as a measure to minimize pollution in the smog-riddled capital during the forthcoming Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation meetings.
The city's expansive Babaoshan cemetery has posted a notice saying "the incineration of the clothing of the deceased will be suspended" from Nov. 1 to 15 due to APEC, according to the Beijing News.
"We kindly ask for your understanding for any inconvenience this may cause," the notice stated.
The APEC conference will take place in the city from Nov. 5 to 11, during which President Xi Jinping will host heads of states and other leaders from APEC member countries including the United States, Russia and Japan.
Other temporary measures have been in place to deal with the pollution in the city.
Officials have regulated car use and ordered the shutting down of factory operations. Government employees in the city and some neighboring areas have been given a six-day holiday and encouraged to travel outside Beijing.
The primary cause of China's problem with air pollution is the extensive use of coal for generating electricity to power the economy, according to a China.org report. The pollution is exacerbated by the growing number of vehicles.
Notwithstanding the immense contribution of the coal industry to the pollution, the government has cracked down on much smaller smoke sources, such as the funerary rite as well as barbecue stands.
During the Beijing Marathon last month, the pollution level was 16 times as high as the World Health Organization's recommended maximum, according to the report.