A herd of 30 Przewalski's horses was released into the wild at the Kalamaili Nature Reserve in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region on Wednesday.
This marked the reserve's 19th release of Przewalski's horses - the world's only remaining wild horse species, native to the Junggar Basin in Xinjiang and parts of Mongolia.
Identifiable by their robust build, tan color and upright, dark mane, the horse is listed as a national first-class protected animal in China and remains endangered globally.
Though the species had been extinct in the wild since the 1960s, China has invested heavily in reintroduction programs, establishing a wild horse breeding research center and initiating the "Wild Horse Return Program" in 1986, and releasing 24 horses from abroad in to the wild..
By the end of 2025, 392 Przewalski's horses had been released into the wild in Xinjiang, raising hopes the species can thrive again in its native land.
New herd of Przewalski's horses released into wild in Xinjiang
Merchants in Hangzhou, the capital city of east China’s Zhejiang Province, have innovatively added new elements to scented sachets, which are traditionally worn during the upcoming Dragon Boat Festival.
As the festival approaches, shops on the famous Hefang Street, a lively ancient thoroughfare that has been the heart of Hangzhou for centuries, are filled with a dazzling array of cultural products, including sachets. There are traditional zongzi (sticky rice dumpling)-shaped designs, as well as plush toys and traditional Chinese-style pendants that appeal to younger generations.
"For me, a pleasant fragrance is all that matters. Some might have a hint of lavender, which I would prefer," said Wang Yunhan, a local citizen.
Fang Huichuntang, a time-honored traditional Chinese medicine brand, has launched plush-style scented sachets that combine cartoon images with Chinese medicinal herbs and innovative flavors. In the past month, this series accounted for 47 percent of total sachet sales at the street stores.
"We collected hundreds of medicinal herbs, selected those with pleasant aromas, and had the (traditional Chinese medicine) director help us make several formulas based on their efficacy. The resulting powdered formulas will have a more refreshing and pleasant aroma, appealing to consumers," said Gou Lulu, cultural and creative product director of Fang Huichuntang.
Many sachets incorporating traditional cultural elements are also selling well, among them one with Dunhuang-mural-inspired colors is particularly eye-catching.
"We found this color very eye-catching, and at the same time, we looked for photos of the costumes of the flying apsaras in Dunhuang on social media platforms to see if our color design could create a similar effect," said Jiang Lingxia, deputy general manager of Hangzhou Hu Qing Yu Tang, another traditional Chinese medicine brand that launched the new sachet.
In addition to purchasing ready-made products, primary and secondary schools in the city have recently organized hands-on activities, leading students to experience the traditional festival culture through the process of making sachets by hand.
Traditional scented sachets refreshed with creative elements for Dragon Boat Festival
