A photographer has captured images of the Great Wall through rain and shine over more than a decade, report Yang Feiyue in Beijing and Sun Ruisheng in Taiyuan.

On a recent hike of the Shanyin section of the Great Wall, built during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) in northern China's Shanxi province, Yang Jianmin, a photographer in his 60s, showed that he could climb faster than some younger people.

Yang has taken more than 100,000 photos featuring parts of the wall along more than 20 counties and cities since 2007. He has become an expert.

"The Great Wall is a ridge of the Chinese nation, and I hope more people understand, protect and love the wall through photography," Yang says. "Shanxi is one of the provinces with a relatively wide distribution of the Great Wall, and has sections from different eras (of its building)."

The sections span from the Warring States Period (475-221 BC) to the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) and run more than 3,500 kilometers across more than 40 counties and districts in nine cities of Shanxi. About 1,500 km of the wall in the province is relatively well preserved.

Before his retirement in 2018, Yang worked at the Shuozhou land and resources bureau in Shanxi. His interest in photography came from his job, where he carried out geological surveys.

He says he sees the wall as an ancient structure full of vicissitudes.

"It is like an old man who had experienced many hardships, very awe-striking and impressive, and I cannot help but have an urge to take photos."

Some sections of the wall have collapsed, eroded by wind and rain over the years. Yang has taken photos to keep a visual record since 2007, carrying his camera while working. "It started as a hobby, but has grown into a near-obsession."

Taking photos of the Great Wall is physically demanding. Yang often has to hike more than 10 km in mountainous areas. The light is best early in the morning and late afternoon, when the wall also looks its best in the frame. He has to wake up at 3 am and stay in position until 4 to 5 pm on some days. The temperature drops to 20 degrees below zero in winter in Shanxi, and the wind feels like "a knife through the face".

Yang says his hands are often frozen, and he has trouble holding the camera steady.

But his troubles "are necessary" as the best preserved sections of the wall are hidden in the mountains. While he had friends who went with him to capture scenes on the wall earlier, only he stayed the course.

"Some found it too hard, and some didn't think what they got was worth the effort," Yang says, adding that the Great Wall is a heritage and its beauty should be appreciated.

In 2009, Yang started his photography project on sections of the wall in northern Shanxi, and visited the structure almost daily. The wall, he says, "has a life of its own". Even if it's the same spot, its appearance varies with time, weather, season and even the mood of a photographer.

"The picture composition, light and shadow are all important, but the more important thing is to discover and capture the beauty of the wall. You can stumble on beautiful scenery-rainbows, lightning, sunset or a sea of clouds."

The wall looks fresh and bright after a rainfall, and takes on a charming golden color at sunset, he says. In winter, snow renders the wall a look of both desolation and tranquility, while lightning and thunder give it a strong visual impact, "like shining spears and armored horses in action".

To get the best image, Yang has often been drenched in rain and seen lightning strike nearby. After a day's work, Yang has also had to fumble his way down mountain paths in low light.

In a published article titled He, Born for the Great Wall, Yang's wife, Li Runying, writes: "The twists and turns of the Great Wall have been left with his solid footprints over more than a decade. His soul is in the grips of the Great Wall's charm and his heart beats faster at its sight.

"Tears overflow in my eyes when I watch his back, not ramrod straight anymore and holding equipment of different sizes."

Yang has spent a lot of his income on equipment, transportation and accommodation to pursue his passion. He says he is grateful for Li's support.

Yang Yang, vice-chairperson of Shuozhou writers association, has admired Yang Jianmin's work for long.

"The images are deeply moving and resonant with people, because they have a soul," Yang Yang says.

Yanmen Great Wall won the best photography album award at the China Pingyao International Photography Exhibition in 2013, among the many honors that Yang Jianmin has received. The album was displayed at the Beijing Olympic Park and some of the photos were published in Chinese magazines.

He says he wants to carry on with the wall photography as long as he lives.