Gripping a 'Hello Kitty' toy 22-year-old Zeng Jia spent an hour lying in her flower-covered coffin with special make-up applied by hired artists to lend her a more ‘deceased’ appearance.

The 'funeral' was attended by friends and family as well as paid mourners and photographers. The wall behind the coffin was also draped in a huge poster featuring an image of Zeng in a princess costume.

Throughout the elaborate, expensive ceremony mourners eulogised Zeng, only for the mourned to get up and celebrate her own wake afterwards.

The student was inspired to organise the faux-funeral following the death of her grandfather.” I wanted to see what people would think of me so I decided to hold my funeral while I could enjoy it” she explained. “Experiencing death has made me appreciate life more keenly”.

Photo courtesy of CEN