Zhou Xiaolin and his wife Yin Jie are known as a "dream couple" of modern times. The duo and their pet dog live a poetic and idyllic life together in a valley full of flowers.

The couple first met during a tourist trip in 1985. Yin, a college student in Beijing traveled with her classmates to Jiuzhaigou, a scenic spot in southwest China's Sichuan Province, wile Zhou was an intern guide for the group.

"During the trip, I found all the Beijing girls were quite talkative, except her. She was very quiet, which impressed me," recalled Zhou.

After writing to each other for five years as friends, Zhou went to Beijing to propose to her. After two months' effort, she accepted the proposal.

But for Yin, love came after the marriage. "I thought at the time, if he failed to treat properly, I would just go back to Beijing by myself after the wedding leave."

However, she didn't expect to travel across the country with Zhou in the next 20 years.

Zhou worked in the tourism industry, a job that required him to go from high plateaus to deep valleys, exploring the best traveling routes. At first, he intended to leave Yin at home in Sichuan's provincial capital city Chengdu. "But she said that she would be so worried about me going far away alone, that she told me 'together, we are a family, no matter where we go.'"

In 2006, the couple left Danba County of Sichuan Province, where they had lived for four years and opened a small inn. Once in conversation, Yin said that she would like to have a small garden if they settled down.

She didn't expect Zhou to keep the words in mind. "Give me some time. I will build her the most beautiful garden in China," he decided.

Zhou gradually became a plant hunter and the couple began to learn about gardening from the scratch.

The hollyhocks dominate the flower valley they reclaimed in the rural area of Chengdu. "My wife said that she used to see clusters of hollyhocks in Beijing and they were very beautiful."

By pure coincidence, hollyhocks originate in Sichuan Province where Zhou was born. "I decided to grow whatever she likes. Whatever the cost, I started collecting seeds from all around the country and the world" said Zhou.

At first, due to lack of knowledge, 75 percent of the hollyhocks were flooded overnight after a storm. A year of hard work was lost in one night. "But the hollyhocks were incredibly tenacious. The stems erected by themselves. They do anything to survive," said Zhou, adding "I was inspired that there is nothing that can't be done."

In their garden, more than 700 species of hollyhocks, nearly 150,000 lilies, and 100,000 hibiscuses grow. For Zhou, his wife and the flowers are the two most beautiful encounters of his life. "When a person meets the love of their life or knows what he/she likes to do, that's happiness."