However, in 1995, after retiring from the military service, due to his obsession with the diversity of wildlife and the spectacular views around Qinghai Lake, Ge, literally, focused his work on celebrating the harmony between humans and nature. The veteran photographer has camped in secluded places around Qinghai Lake more than 200 times and survived perils such as falling into icy water and being attacked by wolves.

"Without shelter and fresh water, I only ate dry food," says Ge, recalling a seven-day trip to an isolated island on Qinghai Lake. "To be honest, I did feel lonely. However, I also enjoyed listening to birdsong and gazing at the starry sky."

Ge's passion for nature has been documented, as part of the project, by Or Itzhak Ben Zrihen, 28, a student from Israel's Tel Aviv University. He recorded Ge's activities in a short documentary.

Aiming to build an international bridge of friendship, the project has invited 610 young filmmakers from 60 countries and regions since its launch in 2011, including the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, India and Australia, to travel to different places, interact with people and experience Chinese culture.

By the end of the trip, with one-on-one support from local volunteers, most of whom are also university students, each foreign participant is required to produce a 10-minute documentary. The film exhibition of this year's project was held on July 7 in Beijing.

For this year's project, themed on "Moments, Seasons and Time", Zrihen chose to film how Ge, carrying heavy photographic equipment, spends his time near the lake, on desert dunes and in the grass from dawn to dusk.