Artist yaks lyrically on wildlife paradise

Meng first explored Hoh Xil in the winter of 2011.

Later in 2012, Meng explored Tibet's Ngari prefecture - another of Tibet's paradises of wild animals - to seek one of the three kinds of wild yaks, the golden wild yak, which is an endangered species only found there in recent years.

It was an unforgettable trip to seek wild yaks in heavy snow.

He speaks of his dice with death when he stepped on the gas as his car was climbing a small slope near Mount Kailash only to see it slide before rushing down to a small valley.

"It was an adventure! I thought I wouldn't come back again. Luckily the car did not turn over and stopped safely on the thick snow. I came very near to losing my life," he says.

Meng had almost died on that trip; however nothing could impair his deep love of wild yaks.

"I respect wild yaks for their spirit, that they'd choose death rather than dishonor," Meng says, adding that most male wild yaks fight to the death.

"Yaks are very clean, they only eat the grass grown in the wild. They never rely on humans. Moreover, they produce valuable things - from their horns to their dung."

He says the most difficult parts of painting yaks are revealing their short legs and long hair, and to capture them running fiercely and their aggressive actions.

After winning many prizes for his works, various institutes and individuals have come to him with requests to paint wild yaks. Meng says he feels sorry because he could not comply with all requests.

"Stylistically, his work implies large rhythms and the bold powerful characteristics of wild yaks," says He Zhong, a poet and famous designer.

"I've spent more than 10 years in Tibet. I love Lhasa, and I love Tibet," Meng says. "I will safeguard this pure land, and I will keep painting wild yaks to my last minute."