A rare indigenous rice species, which almost became extinct in the 1970s, is being revived in Hebei province.

The variety, known as kermes rice for its red color that is similar to the dyestuff of the same name, has a history of more than 300 years and was once offered to the imperial court as a tribute during the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911).

"It has not been easy but I have developed more than 5 hectares of the crop since I got a handful of about 300 seeds from my friend Li Ming in Tangshan seven years ago," said Zheng Hehai, head of Tangshan Daoxiang Rice Co.