Crowds gather to breathe bagged mountain air in Zhengzhou, Henan Province March 29. Photo: IC

Twenty bags of vacuum-packed mountain air were shipped to city dwellers in Zhengzhou, Henan Province as part of a promotional event to boost tourism at nearby Laojun Mountain, China News Service reported.

Locals lined up for a lungful from one of the 20 masks hooked up to pillow-sized bags filled with certified air from the mountain area on Saturday.

The campaign also aimed to raise public awareness of environmental protection, according to Xu Lei, manager of the Laojun Mountain scenic area, located 300 kilometers from Zhengzhou.

Locals couldn't get enough of the pollution-free air, with some heavy breathers ringing the bags to squeeze out every last air molecule.

Breathing from the disposable masks was limited to a few minutes for each person in order to stretch the precious supply.

"I felt my baby move right when I breathed in," said a woman surnamed Sun, who is eight months pregnant.

"I would love to walk in the mountain's forests after my child is born," Sun added.