In our new series "All the Lives We Live," we spotlight five young Chinese people who are breaking the mold. They've taken unconventional paths, excel at what they do, and infuse passion and personality into every step. In their own way, they're redefining what it means to be young – and promising – in today's China.

In this episode, we meet a Beijing native whose lifelong fascination with reptiles and amphibians led him to pursue a career celebrating his scaly and slippery friends. After studying abroad and caring for these creatures firsthand, he came home with a mission: To open a museum that helps others understand and appreciate them too.