Zhang Jinxing has spent the last 22 years in search of the Chinese Bigfoot, or yeren, in Shennongjia, a nature reserve in the western part of Central's China Hubei Province.
No solid proof of its existence has been found so far, but Zhang's efforts have earned him a nickname - Zhang yeren.
With his long thick beard, tanned skin and tall frame, the 62-year-old has become just as famous as the legend of the yeren among locals.
When the reserve was included on the UNESCO World Heritage List in July this year, Zhang, known as the first self-funded yeren hunter, has come into the media spotlight again.
His yeren museum in Muyu township, located at the foot of the highest mountain in the reserve, has been receiving more visits recently.
In 1994, when he came to Shennongjia for the first time carrying 100 kilograms of equipment and daily necessities, he swore that he would not shave until he had unlocked the mystery of yeren. But decades on, he has discovered nothing except mysterious feces, about 100 strands of hair and 3,000 footprints which he believes are evidence of the yeren's existence.
Many people, including his family members, have said he is crazy. Some have even accused him of pulling a commercial stunt. Zhang has chosen to ignore them and continue. "I feel the yeren is beckoning me. I'm destined for this. The yeren is my love," he told the Guangzhou Daily in a recent interview.
He claims that he has sighted yeren several times. "They seemed afraid of me. One time, I threw them wild fruit, one yeren came, took it and quickly ran away," he said.
He estimates that there are at least 20 yeren in Shennongjia. According to his description, they are about two meters tall, have strong arms, are covered with reddish brown hair and can walk upright.
The latest encounter occurred in winter three years ago, he said. A large figure flashed across the hillside and stopped at a tree, but disappeared when he got closer.
Arduous journey
An adventure enthusiast, Zhang came to Shennongjia after reading about yeren sightings in the news.
At the beginning, he survived on biscuits, instant noodles and fruit and slept in a tent or in caves. Gradually, he built sheds out of wood and thatch on the paths which he regularly used. In them, he stored necessities such as pots, rice and flashlights.
"Before, it was easy for me to carry 50 kilograms of gear on a hike. But it's not now, I'm getting old," he said. For each expedition, he needs to take food for a month together with a tent, a canteen and a camera.
His meals usually consist of edible wild herbs and porridge. He seldom eats meat, as he believes the smell will drive yeren away.
But his efforts are not without danger. He has fallen off a cliff and broken his fingers, been stuck in a storm for five days, escaped a wild animal attack and been struck by lightning.
