A funeral parlor in southwest China’s Chongqing that launched a pretend funeral campaign has aroused controversy on Weibo, China’s equivalent of Twitter, as netizens questioned whether the eerie experience could assist people in cherishing life.

Some 30 volunteers were invited to visit the funeral home on Tuesday, going through the process of both preparing and experiencing their own funeral, according to the Chongqing Evening News.

Along with the sorrowful music, participants, mostly university students, read their final letters after a conventional funeral ritual.

Volunteers then got in and laid down inside the papery coffins, which are used for real cremations. Afterwards, they were shut in their caskets by the parlor's employees. They remained in their coffins for 10 minutes, meditating.

Jiang Lai, an undergraduate from Jiangxi Science and Technology Normal University, was the first to go through the process.

“My first time was in a basement, remaining in a wooden coffin for half an hour. I was so scared when I was laying down,” Jiang told the Chongqing Evening News, “but this time, the papery coffin was not as frightening. With the help of employees, I was quiet and reminisced of the old times with my parents and friends.”

However, Chinese netizens’ views were divided, as some called the movement meaningless, while others appreciated the way to reconsider one’s life.

“If staying in a coffin can get one closer to death, then I will feel like a billionaire when I go to the bank,” ironically commented @sicongtabiaodi.

“I think it’s a great way for people to value life. Sudden tranquility in such a narrow space can give people a strong sense of life’s meaning,” @nashijinyuea expressed, supporting the campaign.

Following the campaign, the undertaker explained that they would host the event occasionally, in order to gradually eliminate people’s fears towards the funeral industry. Their thoughts seemed to take effect as Jiang Lai said she would prefer to engage in the funeral business to encourage more people to face up to death.

In fact, these death campaigns have not only been held in China, but also in other countries. South Korean companies staged fake funeral sessions in the hope of helping participants appreciate life, as the country has one of the highest suicide rates in the world.‍