In a country that has traditionally revered the land where one's ancestors are buried, it is heartbreaking to be forced by circumstances to scatter the ashes of loved ones at sea.

Even a basic knowledge of Feng Shui underscores this fact - that an ideal burial ground, usually a place backed by mountains, is purchased ahead of the demise of older family members, because it is believed that the fortunes of descendants are affected by the placement of ancestral grave.

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Yet present-day realities have driven many Chinese to adopt a painful departure from this custom, foremost among them is the lack of remaining land space for the dead.

China's civil affairs ministry said the provinces of Shandong, Shangxi and Guangdong will run out of available grave sites in five years.  Other provinces are expected to have the same shortage within 10 years.

Given China's predominantly geriatric population, annual death figures are predicted to hit 20 million by 2025. In 2011 alone, the recorded death figure stood at 9.6 million.

The alarming annual death figure, coupled with the fast depletion of land resources, prompted the government to sell the idea of cremation and scattering of ashes at sea, or sea burials, in recent years.

This year, more and more Chinese urban residents are said to cotton to the idea, mainly because of the practicality of the option and the perks being offered.

Families who opt for sea burial are given cash subsidies and a package that includes free burial, free transportation to the site, along with free food, flowers and butterflies to complete the funeral rituals.

This year in Harbin, Heilongjiang, some 122 families are reported to have availed of the sea burial package, five times higher than in 2013.

It took a long time to sell the sea burial idea, however.

In 2013, Guangzhou officials offered a $160 bonus for families who avail of sea burial, but less than 20 people availed.

In Shanghai, authorities had to raise the offer from $65 to $320, because in 2010, there were only a few thousand sea burials compared to more than 53,311 grave burials.

The civil affairs ministry is optimistic, however, that the practice will eventually catch on if local governments continue to give it a push among their constituents.

More than just the granting of financial rewards, such a 'push' will require weaning people away from deeply-rooted beliefs and sentiments that are, for the most part, anchored on land, because the ancient land of their memories has been largely bulldozed to give way to life's modern-day conveniences.

This life-altering experience was best articulated by one Chinese man who recently threw his loved one's ashes to the vast expanse:

"Life started from the ocean, so my family believes that returning to the sea is the best way to embrace nature. We think my parents will be able to reach out to anywhere in the world to see my family members in different places."