Residents select sachets in Lanzhou, Gansu province. [Photo/Lanzhou Daily]

As Dragon Boat Festival nears, the streets are coming alive with a festive spirit in Lanzhou, Gansu province, merging tradition with modern creativity.

At a flower shop, owner Li Shengyu crafts exquisite wall hangings using mugwort and calamus, accented with symbolic flowers and sachets. These creations are both decorative and functional, later serving as dried mugwort for moxibustion.

The 21st Qingyang Sachet Exhibition offered another sensory delight. Recognized as a national intangible cultural heritage, these sachets captivated visitors with their intricate designs. Making traditional incense is also gaining popularity. At the Lanjixu experience shop, visitors create their own incense beads and tablets using high-quality herbs, following ancient recipes.

Meanwhile, the streets are filled with the scent of zongzi (sticky rice dumplings with various fillings, wrapped in leaves). Local sweet varieties contrast with an authentic Zhejiang-style shop, all meticulously handmade while adhering to traditional recipes.

This Dragon Boat Festival, ancient customs are revitalized with modern touches. From aromatic wall hangings to heritage sachets and zongzi, the festival's traditions are reimagined, carrying wishes for health and prosperity, ensuring the enduring vibrancy of this ancient celebration.