A few crack jokes.

"Many shed tears," says Li.

"Sometimes I feel more like a therapist than a photographer ... It's quite challenging. I hear many touching stories but must remain dispassionate to complete my mission."

Li developed the idea when experiencing a series of life changes in 2014.

The self-taught photographer had earned a reputation for his commercial shoots during college.

But he decided to pursue art upon graduation.

"I wanted to record that year in some way," he recalls.

"And I thought others may, too ... People often feel panicked and confused in December. I wanted to capture their feelings."

His collection won the Award for Cultivation of New Talent at the 2016 China Pingyao International Photography Festival in September.

He plans to continue with his project for at least five years.

He wants to publish an album next year.

"We feel the power of time when we view these images," he says.