A fresh crack down on the bizarre phenomenon of funeral strippers has been launched in China.

The practice, described as illegal and which corrupts “social morals”, is still a huge problem in rural areas.

Burlesque shows at some funerals aim to draw more mourners and show off the family’s wealth, in a practice that has gained popularity over the years.

China's Ministry of Culture said last month that it was targeting "striptease" and other "obscene, pornographic, and vulgar performances" at funerals, weddings and other traditional public gatherings.

Authorities first began clamping down on the x-rated performances back in 2006 and launched a second drive to eradicate the practice in 2015.

The latest is focused on 19 cities across four provinces, Henan, Anhui, Jiangsu and Hebei, a statement on the website of the Ministry of Culture said.

Three years ago, 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 2015.

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