A granary is pictured during the Tiancang Festival held in Hohhot, Inner Mongolia autonomous region, on March 1. [Photo/northnews.cn]

Tiancang festival, a traditional festival to pray for good fortune and a good harvest, was successfully celebrated at Taosihao village in Hohhot, the capital city of Inner Mongolia autonomous region on March 1 -- the 25th day of the Chinese lunar calendar.

The origins of the Tiancang festival reputedly go back to pre-modern China. It is said that this was a time when northern China suffered from extreme drought while a tyrannical emperor nonetheless imposed exorbitant taxes, resulting in large-scale famine. A sympathetic granary guard gave all the food away to save the starving people. Aware that it violated imperial law, he later burned down the granary and committed suicide.

The Tiancang celebrations, held to honor the soldier's sacrifice, have subsequently carried on from generation to generation. During the festival, participants clean yards and paint granaries to show respect to their ancestors and to pray for a prosperous year.

Listed as an intangible cultural heritage of Hohhot in June 2016, officials said the festival will continue to be protected, inherited and developed as a symbol of regional culture. 

Artists walk on stilts during the festival in Hohhot, March 1. [Photo/northnews.cn]