Snow man

[Photo provided to China Daily]

In a report by The Guardian in 2014, Beck's work was described as an example of how "astonishing landscape and snow art illustrates the cold beauty of mathematics".

For Beck, the enjoyment of being outdoors has always been there. Before, when orienteering, he would examine the area and then draw the map. Now he does the reverse, as he put it in his book: "I start with a drawing, and make it on the ground, in the snow, in a limited amount of time."

Beck says he simply wants to make something beautiful in the mountains, and at the same time call people's attention to the environment.

"The drawing is part of the landscape and the landscape is part of the artwork," says Beck.

"The drawing wouldn't be as good had the landscape not been there."