Living man centerpiece of own funeral

A 60-year-old man held a funeral banquet for himself in Shenyang, Liaoning Province on June 16 after deciding to donate his body to medical research.

"Since my children won't have a chance to give me a proper funeral after my death, I would rather they had one right now so I can see it," said Lang Enhui.

"It is also to celebrate my successful donation," he said.

Lang, quite fit for his age, greeted mourners in the funeral hall beside a large portrait of himself with a smile. His services were complete with funeral music and the traditional burning of paper money to be used in the afterlife.

Nearly 300 relatives and friends attended his 30-table banquet, most feeling a little torn about attending a funeral for a loved one, even if he is still alive.

"Oh my god, I don't even know whether to offer condolences or congratulations", said one woman in attendance.

Lang's body will be delivered to China Medical University in Shenyang within an hour of his death.

"Today's Father's Day, and I want him to do something he really wants to do," said his son, Lang Fu.