💁🏻‍♀️Hi there :)

I’m Labu, from China, now studying and living in the United States.

Traveling has been a defining chapter of my life over the past few years.

At 18, I taught Art and English as an volunteer teacher in a remote village on a small island in southern China. That month, surrounded by nature and spending my days with children and animals, completely changed the course of my life. Growing up in a coastal city with access to quality education, I never imagined that in my own country, so many children lived without shoes, proper homes, or education. I realized the world’s differences were far greater than I could have imagined, and I knew I had to truly understand them.

Since then, I’ve dedicated every holiday to exploring. I started with my homeland, traveling across China, and then ventured further—to Europe, North Africa, Central Asia, North and South America. Every corner of the Earth holds unique ways of life, and this diversity captivates me. It fuels my desire to see more and understand more.

I see myself as a lifelong learner; the people I meet along my journeys inspire me to grow. They’ve taught me to embrace the world with greater openness and understanding.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

The connections between people are nothing short of magical✨

Maybe someday I’ll forget the sunsets over the Sahara, but I’ll never forget the conversations I shared with strangers beneath its starry skies. I want to see the truest sides of the places I visit, hear the stories of the people there, and create more heartfelt, positive connections along the way.

During my travels, I’ve been met with so much kindness and generosity. I hope to pass that forward. Right now, I can’t host travelers from around the world, but one day, when the time comes, I know I will.

Interests

• writing
• architecture
• photography
• meditation
• reading
• soccer
• art history
• history
• travel

Music, Movies, and Books

Music: My favorite musician is Alexandro Querevalú from Peru. The first time I heard his The Last of the Mohicans, I was deeply touched and cried. Years ago, when he held a concert in China, I was fortunate enough to attend. His music connected me with the Andes—a place on the other side of the world.
And of course, I also enjoy reggaeton, pop, and a variety of other genres.

Movies: I don’t watch many films, but my three favorites are The Silence from Iran, Amélie from France, and Visitors on the Icy Mountain from China. I’m drawn to movies that feel exotic to me and bring a sense of calm.

Books: Books are an essential part of my life and one of the main reasons I travel. I went to Lima to explore the Peru depicted in Mario Vargas Llosa’s works, “At what precise moment had Peru fucked itself up?”; I traveled to Istanbul to understand what Hüzün that Orhan Pamuk describes truly means through the details of the city. And I would say my next literary pilgrimage will be to Russia, to St. Petersburg and Moscow.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Two years ago, I traveled to the Sahara Desert in North Africa to visit the place where my favorite author once lived. She inspired me a lot and changed the course of my life in a way, so that was a sensational moment for me.

Teach, Learn, Share

I’m not an expert, but I’ve always been interested in history, art history, photography, and literature. Let’s share, learn, and grow together. After all, isn’t the exchange and connection of cultures the best part of traveling?

Countries I’ve Visited

Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Estonia, France, Germany, Indonesia, Japan, Latvia, Lithuania, Mexico, Peru, Poland, Singapore, South Korea, Spain, Switzerland, Turkey, United States, Uzbekistan, Viet Nam, Western Sahara

Countries I’ve Lived In

China, France, United States