Family pictures are usually placed at home or in our wallets, but this time they are on display in one of the busiest shopping centres of China’s capital.

56 photos of 56 happy families, each from one ethnic group of China, are lined up along the bustling Wangfujing Pedestrian Street in Beijing.

The pictures were all taken by Chen Haiwen since August last year, when began his pictorial journey deep in the home regions of his subjects.

This is a 14- member family from Ethnic JINO. They live in Xishuangbanna Dai Autonomous Prefecture in Yunnan Province, Southwest China.

Up north is the Tibet Autonomous Region where Ethnic MONBA resides. Here is a photo that shows a family of four generations from its Shannan District. The eldest is 73-years-old and the youngest is only 2-years-old.

Chen’s pictures aren’t the only ones on display. There are nearly 800 additional photos taken by over 300 other photographers during different times, which document the daily lives of each ethnic group.

There are plenty of stories surrounding the 56 ethnic groups of China. Added together they comprise the legend of the country. Each of these pictures depicts the union of one family, but together, they form a complete family gathering of China.

Video: Lou Yi

Story: Christie Lee