The Chinese government is cracking down on the practice of hiring strippers to perform at funerals, according to reports.

State media have said burlesque shows at some funerals aim to draw more mourners and show off the family’s wealth, in a practice that is infrequent, although gaining in popularity.

Photographs of a dancer performing at a funeral in the city of Handan last month showed a woman removing her bra in front of onlookers, including children.

The Ministry of Culture released a statement this week saying it was working with police to stop the practice, which it described as “obscene.”

The practice was thought to bring good fortune to the deceased person in the afterlife.

A 2006 report by state-run broadcaster China Central Television (CCTV) found large numbers of funeral performance troupes were operating in villages around the country at a rate of 2000 Yuan ($AUD415) per event.

In a notice on its website, the ministry called for a “black list” of people and workplaces that engage in such shows.

It singled out a group of burlesque dancers, the Red Rose Song and Dance Troupe, who did a strip-tease after the small-town funeral of an elderly person in the northern province of Hebei in February.

The group took off their clothes after performing a traditional song-and-dance routine, the ministry said. 

One leader of Red Rose, surnamed Li, was punished with 15 days in detention and a fine of 70,000 yuan ($11,300) after law enforcement officials intervened.