US photographer and Chinese artist present A Warm Winter

Wildlife in Jackson Hole in the United States are captured in Steven Clark Rockefeller Jr's photographs and Liu Zhong's ink paintings. [Photo provided to China Daily]

They met at a gallery exhibition several years ago, when Rockefeller bought one of Liu's ink paintings on the spot. He also collected two of Liu's other works this year.

As a nature lover, Rockefeller is passionate about taking photos of animals and landscapes, and has learned Chinese calligraphy.

Collin Eckles, a nephew of Rockefeller, says his uncle's love for both art and nature led him to invite Liu to work with him on the book.

It would also increase public awareness of environmental issues and the need to protection nature, Eckles says.

The Rockefellers are known for their large collections of art and for establishing museums such as MOMA in New York.

In recent years, the Rockefellers have actively participated in China's art world.

According to Eckles, the family took shows of well-known Chinese artists to New York and to the Palace of Versailles for the first time in 2013. They also established a culture club in Beijing.

In 2013, it was announced that an art museum will be built in Guangzhou in South China's Guangdong province, under the name of Rose Rock. Eckles says the project has yet to be finished.