Our Privacy Statement & Cookie Policy

By continuing to browse our site you agree to our use of cookies, revised Privacy Policy and Terms of Use. You can change your cookie settings through your browser.

I agree

What snowflakes look like under the microscope

CGTN

Zhang Chao observes snowflakes with a microscope. /CGTN
Zhang Chao observes snowflakes with a microscope. /CGTN

Zhang Chao observes snowflakes with a microscope. /CGTN

Colored snowflakes.
Colored snowflakes.

Colored snowflakes.

Snowflakes.
Snowflakes.

Snowflakes.

Zhang Chao, an enthusiastic fan of snowflakes, works at the National Astronomical Observatories of China (NAOC). In his spare time, he enjoys using a microscope to observe snowflakes.

Zhang started photographing snowflakes as early as 2005. Later, between 2007 and 2008, he began using a microscope to capture photos.

"I just want to collect different kinds of snowflakes," he said.

Snowflakes.
Snowflakes.

Snowflakes.

Snowflakes.
Snowflakes.

Snowflakes.

Snowflakes.
Snowflakes.

Snowflakes.

There are 121 different types of snowflakes, and Zhang has photographed over 80 of them since 2005. He once collected colored snowflakes, which are very rare.

Zhang believes snowflakes possess two kinds of beauty at the micro level: high consistency and randomness. He will never stop photographing snowflakes.

For more:

CGTN Documentary: Echoes of Life

The snowflake catcher

Photos of snowflakes provided by Zhang Chao.

Search Trends