An ancient beast with an eagle-shaped head in the book Mythic Beasts. [Photo provided to China Daily]

Now, with the increasing popularity of fantasy-themed literature and games in China, some companies want to cash in on his pictures, but he wants to maintain the integrity of his work.

Earlier, he visited zoos to observe animals, including their joints, facial expressions and movements.

However, he gradually realized the limitations of a strictly realistic painting style.

"The caged animals lack movement and an animal spirit. So, how can they be compared with unfettered and powerful mythical beasts," says Shi.

A trip to Dunhuang in Gansu province also inspired Shi. When he visited the Mogao Grottoes, a shrine containing Buddhist art treasures in Dunhuang, he was deeply moved by the supernatural and spiritual scenes depicted in the frescoes and the statues.

When Shi was painting his mythical beasts he retreated from city life and the internet to create his art.

Then, he went to live in Yunnan province to see animals and plants in the wild, including the animal totems of ethnic groups.

Ma Changyi, an expert on Chinese mythology and the Shan Hai Jing, says that mythology is the spiritual force of national vitality.

Meanwhile, Shi hopes his book offers a way to decode the classic that is suited to a modern audience, especially children, who tend to absorb information through pictures.

A nine-tail fox [Photo provided to China Daily]