In China, a father and son have posed for the same photo every year for three decades -- until this year, when there was a surprising change.

Enjoy the photos...

Culled: cnn.com

1986 – Tian Li was born in the summer of 1986 in southeastern China's Guizhou Province. His father, then 27, took the first photo with him on his birthday.

Photos shortly.....

1987 – Tian Li, 29, is a director living and working in Beijing. He told CNN that his artist father Tian Jun, 56, had the idea of taking a picture every year on his son's birthday in the same spot.

1988 – Tian, the son, recalled that most of the photos were taken against the wall outside of the apartment where the family had lived together for 20 years in southeastern China's Guizhou Province.

1989 – Tian told CNN the reason why they were shirtless in pictures is because Tian Li's birthday is in the summer. "The weather was so hot so we went bare-chested. We've kept the ritual consistent deliberately."

1990 – Tian Li said he had never thought about what the photos meant to him when he was younger. "It has become a habit a long time ago that we took the same picture every year when I visited my parents, as naturally as going home for the Chinese New Year's Eve dinner every year."

1991 – Tian Li was born in 1986.

wey photos now...............we wan see am.

1992 – His father was born in 1959.

1993 – Tian Li sees the series of images as a form of performance art rather than just photography.

1994 – As his son grew up, his dad grew older and gained weight!

1995 – Tian Li posted the photos to Chinese social network WeChat, and the images have been viewed by millions around the world since late July.

1996 – Tian acknowledges that the story of father-son bonding, and a boy's coming of age, have a universal appeal.

1997 – The last year Tian Li was carried by his father in the photo.

1998 – Tian Li says his dad ran every business you could think of, from real estate to tourism to farming, before returning to the art school he had taught at for years.

Still waiting for pics

1999 – Teenager Tian Li, 13, with dad Tian Jun, 40.

2000 – A puppy joins them in the picture.

2001 – Sixteen years in, the photo became more casual than ever.

2002 – Tian Li at 16, Tian Jun at 43.

2003 – Bill posters occupied the background. Tian Li grew taller than father Tian Jun this year.

2004 – Eighteen-year-old Tian Li was admitted to Beijing Film Academy. Tian told CNN this year marked the first and biggest milestone in his life. He has since left home and pursued a career as a film director in Beijing.

2005 – But the Tian family's photo ritual continued. Tian Li said they took the pictures when he visited his parents during the summer breaks.

2006 – Tian Li turns 20, his father 47.

2007 – Tian Li graduated from college with a degree in Film Directing. This picture was taken inside his parents' home in the winter.

2008 – Tian Li at 22, Tian Jun at 49.

2009 – Tian Li at 23, as Tian Jun turned 50.

2010 – This year, Tian Li went to graduate school to study more directing.

2011 – Tian Li turned 25, while Tian Jun was 52.

2012 – Tian Li got married.

2013 – Tian Li is carrying his father in this picture.