Peru, despite its distance from China, has embraced Chinese culture ever more as the two countries have developed their economic, trade and social ties over the decade.
Chinese traditions such as acupuncture and martial arts are great attractions for the Peruvian people, acting as windows on a distant culture.
MAGIC NEEDLES
Statistics showed that Lima is home to around 50 acupuncture clinics, with 70 percent of them staffed by Peruvian doctors.
Orlando Leiva is among them. In 1986, with his wife Ana Rioja, he obtained a post-graduate grant from the Chinese government to study at the Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, becoming one of the first Peruvian doctors to study acupuncture and traditional Chinese medicine (TCM).
"The first thing I had to learn in China was the language before moving to study the TCM in every aspect, with especial focus on acupuncture, as it greatly impressed and motivated us," he told Xinhua.
After two years of studies and one year of practice, Leiva returned to Peru and opened a clinic. He dedicated himself to acupuncture, massages and other Chinese treatments.
After some patients presented themselves in the early years, Leiva began giving courses on the TCM in medical colleges. Over time, Leiva gathered a group of loyal patients, and he now receives 10-15 people a day.
He also practices Tai Chi and ping-pong in his spare time. "I am fascinated by everything Chinese, Tai Chi, ping-pong, and food. I even gave a Chinese name to my son Pedro, who was born in China," he said.
INNER HARMONY
Master Juan Vasquez, 63, has travelled to China over 20 times, with each time to further his study of Tai Chi.
Vasquez has been training in diverse martial arts since he was 17 but Tai Chi has been his favorite, because he thought it had "more complete and deeper" connotations in culture and philosophy than other kinds of martial arts.
In 1992, Vasquez met the great Chinese master Chen Zhengfei, the 11th generation master of Chen-style Tai Chi, and became his disciple.
For many years, Vasquez spent a month per year in China's Henan Province to learn Tai Chi from Chen.
After practicing four hours per day for over 40 years, Vasquez has gained international renown. He has been crowned the Peruvian champion multiple times.
Since 1994, Vasquez has taught Chen-style Tai Chi in Lima and has gathered over 100 disciples, ranging from children under the age of 10 to elders over 80.
Among them, Marleni Calcina has joined the training for 13 years. She said once "feeling great stress" at work and in her life, it is Tai Chi that has taught her the value of "going slowly".
"My transformation began with Tai Chi, which helped me gain peace and inner harmony. For me now, practicing Tai Chi is like speaking with my soul," she emphasized.
