Meet the Hong Kong woman sharing Peru’s natural beauty with Chinese travellers

Lee Shuen never thought she would move to Peru after deciding in 2013 to take a break from her busy career in Hong Kong and embark on a nine-month trip to South America.

After witnessing the magnificent Andes, which stretch across several countries on the continent, she relocated to the former Inca empire capital of Cusco and started a travel agency in 2015 with a Peruvian business partner.

Her life in Cusco, located close to the mountain range, is a far cry from her Hong Kong life of organising meetings, conferences and exhibitions. Instead, she shows tourists the beauty of the country that she now calls home.

Lee also met her partner, a native Peruvian, in 2016. He shared local spiritual knowledge and showed her around the mountains. The couple also have a seven-year-old son together.

She said she had considered running her business with her boyfriend, who also speaks English, but noted he wanted to continue his career as a musician playing traditional Peruvian instruments.

“Chinese save for rainy days but Peruvians do not,” the 45-year-old said. “It’s just a difference in life goals.”