Since the tomb is the eternal dwelling place of one's ancestors, cleaning the gravesite is a way for the living to show respect to their departed forebears.

On Tomb Sweeping Day, families maintain their family grave sites, worship their ancestors, and carry out a custom known as yan chih or "securing paper." Maintenance of the grave involves cleaning the site, weeding and pruning, and repairing any damages to the tomb itself. Some will also rewrite an inscription on the tombstone to give it new beauty.

After cleaning and repairing the tomb, families begin to worship their ancestors, first by offering sacrifices to the God of the Earth, who is charged with protecting the grave, and then by lighting incense in prayer to the departed.

The third part of the day's ritual, "securing paper," also known as "hanging paper," involves using a stone to secure golden or multicolored rectangular-shaped paper on the tombstone and the God of Earth at the side and head of the grave. This act symbolizes the giving of hanging money to one's ancestors and also indicates that descendants have worshippers at their ancestral grave.

The rites are followed by burning offering money, lighting firecrackers, and lastly by peeling a duck egg and placing it on the tombstone to express the meaning of renewal.

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