Gilbert van Kerckhove with his family and friends at his home in Beijing. [Photo provided to China Daily]

Now living in Beijing with his Chinese wife, Van Kerck-hove enjoys life like a local.

"This is my home. Beijing is very cosmopolitan now. It offers everything you need, and I can enjoy life here," says Van Kerckhove, who was granted a Chinese green card in 2008.

He says life today in Beijing is in sharp contrast to the early days, when he had to endure a monotonous life outside work as there were few things to do and places to visit back then.

Van Kerckhove is very impressed by how the city itself has transformed over the years. One of the most remarkable changes has been the transformation of Beijing's Third Ring Road from farmland to numerous skyscrapers, he says.

As a fan of photography, he has documented the changes in China through his lens.

"I've taken a lot of pictures to show how a city changes," he says.

"Even young people in China have no idea how their country has transformed in the past 30 years. There is no comparison in the world."