Traditional granary, a symbol of a farmer's strength and wealth in the past

Three abandoned traditional granaries are seen in Nanshan town of Shanshui district of Guangdong's Foshan city, Nov 29, 2014. [Photo/IC]

A traditional granary is a round, walled shaped structure with a conical roof that in the past was built for food storage and seed preservation.

Between the 1950s and 1990s, granaries like the above three were popular means for farmers in Shanshui district to store abundant food and prepare for future unpredictable conditions.

As modern granaries took the place of the old ones, most traditionally built granaries were deserted and disappeared, but some are still in good shape, and even in use in Shanshui district.

Standing 10 meters tall with a diameter of seven meters, the three concrete structures have stairs built to reach different levels in the granaries.

Symbols of a good harvest, traditional granaries remind us of the good old days of people in the community.