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Imitation Iphone becomes smash hit as holiday nears

China.org.cn, April 4, 2014

• Imitation Iphone sells well as gift for the deceased in China as the nation’s traditional Tomb-Sweeping Day is due this weekend. [Photo/Taobao.com]

  
  

  Chinese customers have rushed to snap up imitation Iphone as gift for the deceased as China’s Tomb-Sweeping Day approaches this weekend.

  According to traditional Chinese custom, the families of the deceased will burn joss paper (or spiritual money) and other paper replicas of everyday goods on Tomb-Sweeping Day, for the deceased to use in the underworld.

  This year, apart from joss paper, replicas of popular gadgets such as the Iphone 5, WIFI routers, and other digital gadgets, are also on sale.

  More than 200 shops sell ready-to-burn gadgets on Taobao, China's most popular online shopping Website. The sales data of one shop named "Fopinge" list paper Apple gadgets as its most recent hit item, with 212 items sold in the past 30 days. The paper phone at this shop costs only 3.6 yuan (US$ 0.57).

  The imitation gadgets are made from paper or plastic, some even bearing iron nuggets to add more weight -- so they feel more like the real deal. Prices range from 2 to 30 yuan.

  One consumer wrote in their review of an imitation product, "He [the deceased] did not live to see these fine things, now I will burn some for him to enjoy and to express my love."

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