Photo provided to China Daily

As an expert in animal husbandry, he found local farmers lacked skills in pig breeding, so he decided to run a company for local farmers.

"We had a very tough traffic environment in Guizhou at that time. My colleagues and I had to drive a pickup truck every day with tools such as hoes and shovels in case we became stuck in the mud," he says.

In the first few years, flying from Guiyang to Taiwan meant a lot of transfers, and Lee also struggled with the spicy food of Guizhou.

"Now I can't have dinner without chili," says Lee with a laugh.

Lee was lonely as he started his journey 17 years ago, but now his family has joined him.

Two of his sons and their wives now run the company with him. Three years ago, even the third generation moved from Taiwan to Guiyang.

"My grandson is 9 years old and he is studying here," says Lee, adding that his grandson is the only child from Taiwan in the primary school.

Lee, together with his 291 staff members, has seen annual sales revenue reach 110 million yuan. Under his guidance, their business also helps promote the development of pig farms in the area. Local farmers also benefit from raising pigs.