Reimagining final farewells

At just 28 years old, Wan Changyou has already worked in the funeral industry for six years.

After earning a degree in modern funeral management in 2019, Wan began his career at a funeral home in Shandong before joining B.D.R, a Shanghai-based funeral service company, in 2022.

As a funeral ritualist, Wan has assisted over 500 families. His work includes preparing symbolic daily necessities for the deceased's afterlife and conducting the funeral rites.

While Wan's career path may seem straightforward, given his academic background, his colleague Shen Jiaying took a more unexpected route into the industry.

Also 28, Shen has a degree in animation and previously worked in the ACGN (animation, comics, games, and novels) sector. However, after attending a relative's funeral that felt "hollow" and "lacked genuine meaning", she decided to switch careers.

"That experience inspired me to explore the industry myself," she said.

Shen joined B.D.R in 2021 and now works in the new media department, where she helps introduce the funeral industry to the public through videos and articles on social media.

In recent years, more young people like Wan and Shen have been entering the field.

Li Qi, head of the teaching and research sector of modern funeral management program at Wuhan Social Work Polytechnic (WSWP) in Hubei province, said the program receives 300 to 400 applicants annually, despite offering only 150 spots.

"Last year, the employment rate for these graduates was over 95 percent," she said.

Chen Gang, a 29-year-old funeral planner from Chongqing, has also observed that while older professionals often emphasize tradition, his generation is more focused on personalizing services to reflect the deceased's personality, preferences, and life story — while still respecting traditional rituals and family wishes.

For example, Chen once arranged a birthday cake and decorations for a funeral that coincided with the deceased's birthday.

"Young people are often distanced from the concept of death, which makes them more open to discussing and imagining it — leading to innovation within the industry," Shen said.