According to Lin, he spent nearly three months combining traditional Chinese elements with more contemporary aesthetics to produce the 24 Solar Terms series, which were originally created for his book on photography in 2012.

The paintings were based on his observations of rural life, which is closely connected with the solar terms. And he used circular compositions with minimal strokes to depict each solar term's typical traits.

"I had no idea back then that my work would be a part of a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage application," he says.

Later, Lin's popularity soared even more when he was invited to do stage backdrops for Rendezvous With Chinese Poetry, broadcast on China Central Television.

The 10 works, based on lines from 10 ancient poems, wowed many with their impressive illustrations of the poems' content and the painting techniques.

He was asked again last year to paint stage backdrops for the program's latest season.

Lin says his painting is based on traditional calligraphy, on which he spends more than 10 hours a week.