TRIPLE THREAT: Doris Kwaka models, runs a travel agency and designs clothes in Beijing

"You can't sell a China service when you're in Africa," she said. "It's easier when you're in China. In the last five years I've established a name and a reputation."

Lefifi and Lamin had maintained a sustained interest in China before arriving, but for Kenyan Doris Kwaka, the decision to move to China came as a lightbulb moment. Kwaka, who was also working as a fashion model in Europe, co-owned a travel agency with her Kenyan-American friend Francisca Ochieng, taking foreigners to safaris and luxury destinations in Kenya and other African countries.

One day, she saw something that sparked her interest in China. "I saw a group of 60 Chinese tourists, and I thought, 'Wow, this is where I'm going,'" she said. "I saw opportunities because no one else was doing that and people are intimidated of the Chinese, so I took the initiative and came here." Previously, Kwaka's business primarily catered to Americans and Europeans, but as the number of wealthy Chinese grew, Kwaka saw a niche market in tourism that had not yet been tapped by other African travel agencies. "Some Chinese have a lot of money and they're beginning to travel a lot," said Kwaka. She quickly moved to Beijing and enrolled in language classes so she could better serve Chinese customers. Of her Chinese, Kwaka said, "Yue Lai Yue Hao (this means it gets better and better)."

Kwaka has found that living in China has opened even more doors than she had originally anticipated. "One client said to me, 'We want to come to Kenya and buy diamonds,' so now I do gemstone safaris," she said. "This is why I like China. Just like that [snaps] you get ideas and opportunities. We take tourists to mines where they buy raw gold, raw diamonds, rubies and tanzanites."

Kwaka has continued to model in China, and even launched her  fashion line in May, again with Ochieng, called DHK Fashion. Her designs are a modern take on African fabrics and motifs, and she sells her pieces at Red Stone boutique in Shunyi's Euro Plaza and on the Internet. Kwaka said that her location in China has been paramount in distinguishing her career. "In Kenya, there are many travel agencies that do what I do, and even these clothes, they would not find it new," Kwaka said. "But these are different in China, and the Chinese like new things."

Though Kwaka, Lefifi and Lamin feel that moving to China was the best choice for their careers, they say setting up a business in China can be an uphill battle. Lamin said he could have made much more money in other ventures, but his passion for African cooking has kept him working hard at his restaurant. His greatest wish is to have the Ministry of Culture promote his restaurant, so that Chinese people have more exposure to African culture. Lefifi said that registering a business can be extremely difficult, and Chinese and African clients sometimes clash over different business values. "It requires a lot of patience," she said. But all three believe the struggles are worthwhile. "It is hard to set up your own business here - I know people who have taken five years to get everything done and done," said Kwaka. "But day by day there are many more people coming to China. There is hope, and if someone really wants to do it they can do it."