Saving the golden orchid

Today, they've successfully reintroduced more than 20,000 Calanthe striata orchids across nature reserves in four provinces: Anhui, Hunan, Jiangxi, and Zhejiang.

For Yang, seeing these once-endangered orchids bloom in the wild for three consecutive years has been deeply rewarding. But he remains cautious. "This is only a first step," he says. "We'll need to keep monitoring them, not just for 10 years, but for 20, maybe even 100. Re-wilding them is just the beginning. There's a long road ahead."

He has begun seeking a more permanent home for the orchid. "We hope to integrate conservation efforts with scenic site development. Calanthe striata is beautiful. It once grew wild in both Hunan and Jiangxi provinces, and now we can bring lab-cultivated seedlings into scenic areas. That way, the orchids can continue to grow and reproduce, while also contributing to the local economy."

Yang reveals that they also plan to develop fresh-cut flowers and potted versions of Calanthe striata, bringing this once-vanishing orchid into homes and markets as well.