Liyi – China

Langmusi is a Tibetan town, nestled in the mountains straddling the border of Sichuan and Gansu Provinces in central China. There are two major cultural influences in Langmusi; one is Tibetan Buddhism, another one- and much more important – is nomadic life. The small town of Langmusi is a popular destination for those interested in Tibetan culture, hiking or horsetrekking. We stopped here for three days and actually spent our time on a horsetrek through the beautiful grasslands. And that’s how we met Liyi. She runs her own business ‘Langmusi Tibetan Horse Trekking’, and co-owns Black Tented Café which is recommended by Lonely Planet. Liyi prefers no pictures of herself on our website, and we respect her request.

WHAT DOES ‘FREEDOM’ MEAN TO YOU?
To be able to do the things I really want to do. I think the really happy thing is that I found myself finally capable to make the dream comes true after several years hard working and learning.

WHAT DOES ‘FRIENDSHIP’ MEAN TO YOU?
I think the real friends are the people with whom you can feel relax while staying with them. In China, many people say that friends are those people who face and share the trouble with you. But now, the life is hard and busy for most Chinese, the friends cannot always stay with you. Maybe they are too far away or maybe they are too busy to contact you frequently. But even after a long time of no contacts and missing many of your important things, you are still happy to share the happiness and sadness with each other. That’s friendship.

WHAT DOES ‘SUCCESS’ MEAN TO YOU?
Never give up. Always try my best to resolve all the trouble on business and life, and to be able to even improve the things. And also to be able to help people to learn and to help them having a better life. That’s success to me.

DO YOU HAVE A DREAM THAT YOU HOPE ONE DAY TO BE FULFILLED?
Yes I do. But it’s a little secret.

WHO DO YOU RESPECT THE MOST IN THE WORLD?
Volunteers – The people who are involved in helping and taking care of wild animals and the environment. And they are really smart enough to find the way that really works out best.

WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO CHANGE IN THE WORLD?
I really think now we have too much human beings on the world. It’s too hard for the earth to support us now. Everyone has the duty to control the number of the human beings.

WHAT IS THE MOST PRECIOUS FOR YOU?
The love and support from my husband.

IS THERE SOMETHING THAT YOU ALWAYS WANTED TO DO, BUT NEVER DARED TO?
Oh Yes! Give up all the things I have right now and try something totally different which I am really interested in.

WHAT DRIVES YOU? WHAT MAKES YOU TICK?
I have to say most of the Chinese are living under the high pressure of living, such as money or a good job. So most of the time, we are driven by life, not really by ourselves. I am happy that the things which are driving me now are the things I really like.