China censors public mourning as it holds former premier's funeral

Flags at government sites are flying at half-mast and security vehicles are parked in the heart of Beijing, as China mourns former Premier Zhu Rongji.

Zhu died of an illness last week at 97 and was cremated at a funeral in Beijing on Tuesday. The ceremony, attended by senior leaders including President Xi Jinping, was kept low-key. No footage has been released.

Zhu, who served as China's premier from 1998 to 2003, is remembered as one of the country's most important economic reformers.

While hailing the late premier as a "loyal" party member, the Chinese state is also wary that public mourning for his era of reform can easily turn into veiled criticisms of the current government under Xi.

Xi was among the leaders who had visited Zhu in hospital or sent condolences after his death, Chinese state media reported on Tuesday. Others included incumbent premier Li Qiang and ex-president Hu Jintao.

After his death, state media described Zhu as an "outstanding member of the Chinese Communist Party" and a "time-tested and loyal Communist fighter".

He was cremated at Babaoshan Revolutionary Cemetery, an exclusive resting place for high-ranking officials and other prominent figures.

Meanwhile, online, posts about Zhu have been contained and censored - including an essay written by economist Zhao Jian, which remembered Zhu's era as a time when people were "properly poor" but saw a clear future ahead.