A grieving daughter paid a 1,000 yuan bill after a band, unknown to the family, played four songs at her mother's funeral and she was too embarrassed to stop the music, China National Radio (CNR) reports.

The woman, surnamed Huang, was recommended the band play when she and other relatives arrived for the ceremony at Kunming funeral home in Southwest China's Yunnan province.

But she was unaware of the extra cost and did not want to lose face by asking them to stop playing mid-service.

"It would be embarrassing if I had refused the band's performance on the occasion of my mother's funeral," Ms Huang said who was unable to get a receipt for the band's service as it was a standalone charge.

The head of the funeral band, whose surname is Zuo said "We have to afford to pay the band's salaries. If we can't offer good treatment, no one will be recruited."

"The maximum of band service is 1,600 yuan, now falling to 1,000." Zuo added.