Sacrifice ceremony for Queen Mother of the West held in NW China

A performer dressed in traditional costume tolls the bell during the sacrifice ceremony for Queen Mother of the West in Jingchuan county of Northwest China's Gansu province on Aug 20, 2016. [Photo/Chinanews.com]

A sacrifice ceremony was held to worship Queen Mother of the West, or Xiwangmu, in Jingchuan county of Northwest China's Gansu province, on Aug 20, 2016.

Thousands of believers and guests from both Chinese mainland and Taiwan attended the folk culture activity.

According to legend, the 18th day of the seventh month in Chinese lunar calendar is the birthday of Queen Mother of the West, an ancient Chinese goddess whose origin can be traced back to oracle bone inscriptions of the 15th century BE that record sacrifices to a "western mother".

The goddess was often associated with Chinese Taoism. It is believed that she was the dispenser of prosperity, longevity, and eternal bliss. Her popularity grew across the China as a result of the opening of the Silk Road.