Meet Lucille, a travel designer from Sichuan who brings her affinity for authentic experiences to life. With a knack for transforming trips into extraordinary adventures, she excels in creating itineraries that connect travelers with local people and cultures. Whether it’s hiking the ancient tea-horse trail or savoring the fiery flavors of her hometown, Lucille ensures that visitors have memorable stories to share long after their journeys have ended.
Where are you from, and where do you live now?
I’m from Sichuan and have returned to my sweet home. It’s known for its teahouse culture, traditional Sichuan opera, and, of course, its famous spicy cuisine. I’ve also studied and worked in Macau, Shanghai, and Munich.
Was there a specific moment when you realized travel was the career for you?
When I took a gap year to travel, everything shifted for me. I spent weeks walking the Camino de Santiago, a historic pilgrimage route renowned for its spiritual significance, which taught me perseverance as I pushed through blisters and challenges. I also found myself at Lake Atitlán in Guatemala, where I engaged in deep, meaningful conversations with a shaman. In those moments, I realized that my desire to travel wasn’t just about exploring new destinations; it was about connecting with people and understanding their stories. That is when I knew travel was the career for me.
Through your career, was there one piece of advice that really impacted how you do your job?
A friend once told me, “We solve problems as they arise, not before. Until then, just do it.” This simple advice shifted my approach. I used to spend a lot of time trying to prepare for every possible scenario, but now I focus more on taking things step by step. It has helped me to stay present and approach challenges with a more focused perspective.
What’s the best travel experience you’ve had so far?
One of my most memorable travel experiences was a spontaneous road trip through Tibet with my mother when I was 14. We visited Lulang Forest for its famous stone pot chicken, and despite the village’s power outage, the locals welcomed us warmly, guiding us to our guesthouse by flashlight. The next morning, we woke to the smell of butter tea being prepared by our host’s mother, whose kindness and hospitality stayed with me. That trip was not just about seeing Tibet, it was about the warmth of the people and the connections we made along the way.
What is the most memorable trip you’ve planned for a traveler?
I’m currently working on a hiking trip along the ancient tea-horse trail, led by Mei Zhang, the founder of WildChina. This is a dream project for me because I have always wanted to share the beauty of this historic route. There is something incredibly powerful about walking along paths that have been traveled for centuries, and I am excited to help bring that experience to others.
What’s the coolest WOW moment you’ve had happen on one of the trips you arranged?
One of the coolest moments I have arranged happened in Zhangjiajie. I planned a trip for a friend during the quieter season in January, and he had some truly unforgettable experiences. He saw the Avatar mountains covered in the first snowfall of the year and, while exploring, stumbled upon a mist-shrouded temple where a monk offered him hot water. That simple act of kindness in such a magical setting left a lasting impression on him.
If you had to pick one thing that makes a trip outstanding, what would it be?
For me, what makes a trip truly outstanding is the opportunity to connect with local people. It is through these interactions that you really see a place differently. You are not just visiting, you are engaging, learning, and understanding things from a new perspective.
Tell us three places on your travel bucket list and why:
When it comes to my own travel dreams, I have always been fascinated by Gauguin’s paintings of Tahiti, and I would love to visit the island to experience the place that inspired such vibrant artwork. I am also dreaming of visiting Patagonia in Chile, a hiker’s paradise I have wanted to explore for a long time. And though I have been to Tibet before, I have never had the chance to visit Kangrinboqe, the sacred mountain considered one of the most spiritual places in the world. I hope to walk its trail someday.
What do you do when you aren’t working?
When I am not working, I love to stay active with dance classes or workouts. I also enjoy spending time in nature, whether it is hiking, scuba diving, or anything involving water. When I have more time at home, I like experimenting with new recipes or getting lost in a good book.
What’s a fun fact about you that most people don’t know?
A fun fact about me is that I always thought I had a high tolerance for spice, being from Sichuan. But a recent trip to Chongqing taught me my limit when it comes to handling heat!
