China through its own eyes

There was no wintry feel in the photo from southern Hainan, which brought out the tropical island province's polychromatic landscape.

As the camera continued its travels, the photos became richer, and the one from the Inner Mongolia autonomous region stunned viewers with its display of horses galloping on the grasslands in the shadow of a volcano.

The one from Hong Kong highlighted the city's skyline and docks, while the picture from Qinghai offered a glimpse into the remote northwestern region.

In addition to distinctive scenery, many participants used the camera to capture the mundanities of everyday life.

One took selfies on their way back home from a night shift. Some captured special moments with family, and another shot their last meal at school.

Wen Xianglie from Zhejiang province decided to snap a childhood memory when he got the camera.

"I think the meaning of photography is to transform fleeting memories into something eternal," the 20-something says.

"Since I didn't have the means to capture moments from the past when I was little, the first thing that came to mind was my alma mater, which is brimming with childhood memories," he says.

Wen chronicled himself and former classmates revisiting their primary school. He says the experience made him realize the beauty of life, and will be a constant reminder to strive to live a better one.

The diverse themes in the photos are exactly what Li had in mind when he started the project.