HOHHOT, April 5 (Xinhua) -- Nine years after his mother's funeral and Liu Ze (pseudonym) has not once visited her grave, nor did he show up at his father's funeral last year.

Liu, 38, is a prisoner in Hohhot No. 1 Prison in Inner Mongolia. He was sentenced to life in prison for robbery 15 years ago, and has been serving his time ever since.

While China observes Tomb-sweeping Day Thursday, Liu has been given the chance step out from behind the prison walls to mourn his deceased family.

An hour's drive from the jail, justice bureau workers confirmed his arrival at his village in the county of Tumd Left Banner, and double-checked the tracking tag on his wrist before leaving.

Accompanied by his brother, he entered their family yard. "The house has been empty since dad died, and a rainstorm damaged the yard," the brother explained.

Before his arrival, Liu's sister cleaned their father's room, where Liu will stay for two days.

He walked around the room, touching the furniture and the brick bed, he murmured to his siblings, "I want to see dad and mum."

As they were headed to the graveyard, the drizzle turned into snow.

As soon as Liu caught the sight of the gravestone covered with snow, he broke down. "I'm sorry dad and mom, I'm late," he said, kneeling on the ground.

In front of the mound where their parents' ashes are buried, Liu's brother placed chrysanthemum flowers one by one in a circle, symbolizing family reunion.

Before Liu was in jail, his parents were healthy. "I even did not have a chance to have a family photo taken," he said. "I thought I'd still have time to take care of them after I was out."

Liu's excellent behavior in jail has earned him four commutations. He will be released at the coming Chinese New Year if he can earn a fifth this year.

As the snow became heavier, Liu's siblings pulled him up from the ground, and dragged him home.

Wang Wenquan, warden of the prison, said 15 prisoners in Inner Mongolia were allowed to return home for Tomb=sweeping Day.

Those who had lost immediate family members were selected, said Wang.

A basic requirement for prisons is to transform law-breakers into law-abiding citizens. Prisons were selected to try holiday release programs, and the practice will be made regular and institutionalized progressively, according to the Ministry of Justice.

On hearing of Liu's return, his cousins came to visit. "Do you have any plans? Are you going to meet someone this time?" asked one of his cousins.

"I'm planning to talk to the village Party chief to see what I can do for a job when I'm out," he answered.

"Among my siblings, I was the one who my parents worried about most. I'm planning to work hard and live a good life to comfort them in heaven," he said.