For 10 years, a Chinese man has been living in solitude in hopes that he will be able to figure out the formula behind winning lottery numbers.

The 49-year-old man, identified as Mr Wang Chengzhou, has made a home under a road bridge in Chongqing where he spends his time researching the mathematical formula behind the lottery's winning digits, reported local media.

To make ends meet, Mr Wang has worked part time in jobs at the post office or as a cleaner, according to media reports.

The man had worked at a construction site in Xian, Shaanxi province, but suffered a thigh fracture. After he recovered from the injury, he told relatives that he was going to work at another building site in Yunnan province, but ended up in Chongqing in 2008, reported South China Morning Post (SCMP).

His family reportedly had no knowledge of his whereabouts until reporters contacted them.

Despite his 76-year-old mother begging him to return home for the upcoming Chinese New Year, Mr Wang rejected her, saying he would not return until he had "made his mark in lottery research", according to SCMP.

"I have mastered the algorithms of lotteries," he was quoted as saying.

Mr Wang, who spends about 2,000 yuan (S$400) on lottery tickets each month, said he plans to write four books on topics of mental arithmetic and lottery codes based on his research.

Sichuan University maths professor Zhou De told the Chengdu Commercial Daily that it is "almost impossible" to predict winning lottery numbers in advance.

"Lottery numbers are randomly generated," he was quoted as saying.