Zhong Yang works with colleagues in a laboratory at Fudan University in 2012. [Photo by Feng Ai/Xinhua]

Yet his life came to an end on Sept 25, 2017 in a car accident in Erdos, Inner Mongolia autonomous region.

Zhong once said, "All lives must end, but I am fearless because my students will continue the research."

From the northern Tibetan Plateau to the southern Tibet valley, from the dead zone to the Yarlung Zangbo River, we can see traces of the spectacular life of Zhong and gain glimpses of his long pilgrimage as a collector of natural beauty.