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.
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
Photos of snowflakes provided by Zhang Chao.