Phalaenopsis zhejiangensis begin reproducing naturally at Tianmu Mountain. [Photo/Tide News]

More than 400 artificially propagated Phalaenopsis zhejiangensis — a nationally protected first-class wild plant species — were reintroduced to their natural habitat in Hangzhou's Tianmu Mountain on May 13, marking a highlight of the city's 2026 International Day for Biological Diversity celebrations.

Known as "mountain elves", the endangered orchids are endemic to China and survive only in a few scattered locations, including Tianmu Mountain in Lin'an district.

After years of research, scientists cultivated the species and launched rewilding programs. More than 2,000 seedlings have been propagated in Zhejiang's Qingliangfeng National Nature Reserve, with over 1,200 already returned to the wild. Some have even begun reproducing naturally.

Tianmu Mountain, Hangzhou's only UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve, is home to more than 10,000 recorded species and has become a key biodiversity conservation hub. Recent monitoring shows populations of South China sika deer exceeding 300, while the endangered black muntjac has expanded its range across neighboring townships.

As host of the Fifth World Congress of Biosphere Reserves, Hangzhou has recorded more than 16,000 species through comprehensive biodiversity surveys and introduced a long-term conservation strategy through 2035. The city continues to expand public engagement through nature education programs, birdwatching activities, and biodiversity observation events.

Phalaenopsis zhejiangensis begin reproducing naturally at Tianmu Mountain. [Photo/Tide News]