China Family Buries Rs 1.5 Crore Mercedes At Funeral, Sparks Outrage

Last Updated:April 18, 2026, 22:49 IST

Chinese family in Liaoning buries luxury Mercedes as funeral offering, viral video sparks outrage over waste and pollution, authorities probe it as feudal superstition

A Chinese family has sparked outrage after burying a luxury Mercedes-Benz car worth around 1.5 million yuan (Rs 1.49 crore) as a funeral offering for a deceased relative in Liaoning province.

Videos circulating online showed an excavator lowering the car into a pit beside the grave before covering it with soil. The vehicle, reportedly an S450L model with a “8888" licence plate, drew attention as the number is considered auspicious in China.

The incident triggered sharp reactions on social media, with many calling it wasteful and environmentally harmful, while some defended it as an act of filial respect.

Authorities have launched an investigation, describing the act as linked to “feudal superstition" and vowing action to curb such practices.

Authorities’ Intervention

Authorities stepped in the next day, with the local civil affairs bureau saying the Jin family had been reprimanded for illegally burying the car, terming the act “feudal superstition".

Jin later issued a public apology and may face fines. The family could also be asked to bear costs related to excavation, site clearance and ecological restoration.

Social Media Outrage

The incident went viral on Chinese social media, drawing over 30 million views and triggering a sharp debate. While some users accused the family of showing off wealth, others defended it as a personal way of mourning.

“This is ridiculous. They ignore pollution in the world of the living," one user said. Another wrote, “Caring for loved ones while they are alive matters more than such gestures."

News world China Family Buries Rs 1.5 Crore Mercedes At Funeral, Sparks Outrage

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