{{Short description|Neighbourhood in Lima, Peru}} {{Infobox settlement |name = Barrio Chino |image_skyline = Chinatown, Lima20060002.JPG |image_caption = [[Chinese Arch, Lima|Arch]] at the main entrance |subdivision_type = Country |subdivision_name = [[Peru]] |subdivision_type1 = [[Regions of Peru|Department]] |subdivision_name1 = [[Lima Department|Lima]] |subdivision_type2 = [[Provinces of Peru|Province]] |subdivision_name2 = [[Lima Province|Lima]] |subdivision_type3 = [[List of districts of Lima|District]] |subdivision_name3 = [[Lima District|Lima]] |population_as_of = |population_total = }} '''Barrio Chino''' ({{zh|c=利馬唐人街|p=Lì mǎ tángrénjiē|j=lai6 ma5 tong4 jan4 gaai1}}) is a neighbourhood in [[Lima]], [[Peru]]. A [[Chinatown|Chinese enclave]], it is centered on the seventh and eighth blocks of [[Jirón Ucayali|Ucayali Street]]. Its foundation by Chinese immigrants dates back to the mid-19th century, having been later heavily damaged during the [[War of the Pacific]], with further decline following the military occupation. It experienced a revival starting in the 1970s and is now a thriving resource for [[Chinese Peruvian|Chinese-Peruvian culture]].<ref name="APC-CalleCapón"/>
==History==
=== Origins === In the 1850s, Chinese immigrants started to cluster in the area around the Central Market, then called La Concepción. During the Spanish colonial period, the area was known as Calle Capón, as it was the location of the [[Market (place)|market]] for castrated [[pigs]].
The consolidation of an ethnic Chinese neighborhood was spurred by the presence, from the 1860s, of large commercial houses established by Chinese [[International trade|import companies]] from [[Hong Kong]] and [[California]]. These included the Wing Fat Co., the Wo Chong Co., or the Wing On Chong Co.<ref name="Lausent-Herrera">{{cite journal | last = Lausent-Herrera | first = Isabelle | title = The Chinese in Peru and the Changing Peruvian Chinese Community(ies) | journal = Journal of Chinese Overseas | volume = 7 | year = 2011 | pages = 69–113 | url = http://ilausent.free.fr/chinos/The%20Chinatown%20in%20Peru%20and%20the%20Changing%20Peruvian%20Chinese%20Communities.pdf | format = PDF | accessdate = 19 February 2015}}</ref> Small businesses catered to the Chinese population, such as [[laundries]], shoe shops, restaurants, and [[Convenience store|small grocery stores]] (''bodegas'').<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.apch.com.pe/comida-china.html | title = Comida China - Vamos al chifa | trans-title = Chinese Food - Let's do chifa | publisher = Asociacion Peruano China | accessdate = 19 February 2015}}</ref>
Within a short time Chinese immigrants had established a number of [[Kongsi|benevolent societies]] and [[Chinese temples|temples]], often according to place of origin. For example, the Ku Kong Chao Association was established in 1867 by immigrants from rural Guangdong, the Pun Yui Society by Cantonese immigrants in 1887, and the Tungshin Society in 1898 by Hakka immigrants.<ref name="Lausent-Herrera"/><ref name=APC>[http://www.apch.com.pe/ Asociación Peruano China] webpage. Retrieved 22 January 2012.</ref> The Chinese Central Benevolent Society, or Tonghui Chongkoc, was formed in 1882 to provide members with legal counseling, burial insurance, and the establishment of a Chinese school.<ref name=APC/>
=== Decline === Like the rest of Lima, the area of Barrio Chino before the term was official suffered destruction and looting in 1881-1883 by [[Occupation of Lima|invading Chilean military forces]] during the [[War of the Pacific]]. This left the quarter in economic disarray, in which only a handful of large enterprises were able to survive.
As the neighborhood's fortune's declined, it became the target of critiques by the Lima elites intent on cleaning up the city and of mobs incited by political candidates and racist stereotypes. In 1909 the government demolished part of the quarter, and the neighborhood was again attacked during the labor riots of 1918.<ref name="Lausent-Herrera"/>
The ethnic face of the neighborhood also changed. A several-decade ban on Chinese immigration resulted in increasing intermarriage with Peruvians of non-Chinese descent and integration into the general society.<ref name="Lausent-Herrera"/> This was coupled with an increase in [[Indigenous peoples in Peru|migrants from the country's Andean highlands]], who moved into Lima's downtown.
By the second half of the 20th century the streets in the neighborhood had become so crowded with stalls and street sellers that they were essentially impassable to vehicles.
=== Renaissance === [[Image:Chinatown Lima Peru.jpg|right|thumb|200px|The walking mall in Barrio Chino]]
In the 20th century, Barrio Chino had shrunk but nevertheless maintained a distinct ethnic character. In 1971, an [[Paifang|archway]] was gifted from the people of [[Taiwan]]; it was erected at the corner of Ucayali and Andahuaylas streets<ref name="Fodor-online">{{cite web | url = https://www.fodors.com/world/south-america/peru/lima/things-to-do/sights/reviews/barrio-chino-583373/ | title = Barrio Chino: Jr. Ucayali between Andahuaylas and Paruro, El Centro | work = Lima Sights | publisher = Fodor's Travel | accessdate = 19 February 2015}}</ref> to mark the entrance to Barrio Chino.
In 1999,<ref name="APC-CalleCapón">{{cite web | url = http://www.apch.com.pe/calle-capon.html | title = Calle Capón: Barrio Chino en el Centro de Lima | trans-title = Calle Capon: Chinatown in Downtown Lima | publisher = Asociacion Peruano China | accessdate = 19 February 2015 | archive-date = 8 February 2015 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150208185708/http://www.apch.com.pe/calle-capon.html | url-status = dead }}</ref> Barrio Chino was overhauled in preparation for the 150th anniversary of Chinese immigration to Peru. Calle Capón was cleared, closed to vehicles, and paved with over 30,000 red bricks bearing the names of donors and benefactors. Several panels were included depicting animals of the Chinese zodiac and, in the center of the new pedestrian mall, the ideogram for "Double Happiness".
Along with this physical renovation, the rescinding of the ban on Chinese immigration contributed to a demographic and cultural renewal of the ''barrio chino''.<ref name="Lausent-Herrera"/> China's easing of restrictions on emigration in 1983 further contributed to this process.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.baptistpress.com/resource-library/espanol/lima-la-comunidad-china-mas-grande-de-latinoamerica/ | title= Lima, la comunidad china más grande de Latinoamérica |author=Nicole Leigh|date=29 March 2018|website=Baptist Press|accessdate=11 February 2023}}</ref>
==Location== Today, ''barrio chino'' occupies several blocks around [[Jirón Ucayali]] to the east of [[Avenida Abancay]] in the historic district of Lima known as [[Lima District|''El Centro'' or ''Cercado de Lima'']]. Its heart is the pedestrian-only block called Calle Capón, located on Ucayali between Andahuaylas and Paruro, but businesses like restaurants spread along the adjoining roads.<ref name="Fodor-online"/>
==Culture== The Calle Capón promenade is open every day of the year as a cultural and tourist attraction.<ref name="APC-CalleCapón"/>
[[File:Danza del león cdo.jpg|thumbnail|Lion dance during Chinese New Year celebrations (2007)]] Traditional Chinese festivals are celebrated here. Examples are [[Chinese New Year]] and the [[Mid-Autumn Festival]].<ref name="APC-CalleCapón"/>
Barrio Chino is a source of Chinese ingredients and a hub of [[Chinese cuisine]]. Lima boasts over 6000 Chinese restaurants,<ref>{{cite magazine|url=http://www.commissionmagazine.org/Stories/Nov02/peru.htm |archive-url=https://archive.today/20070423045238/http://www.commissionmagazine.org/Stories/Nov02/peru.htm |url-status=usurped |archive-date=2007-04-23 |magazine=theCOMMISSION |date=November 2002 |title=Chinese in Peru: Soul food |publisher=International Mission Board }}</ref> called "[[chifa]]s". Some of the most renowned and venerable of these are located in the neighborhood. The San Joy Lao, for example, was first established before 1920.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.chifasanjoylao.com/historia.html | title = Nuestra historia | publisher = Chifa San Joy Lao | accessdate = 22 January 2012 | url-status = dead | archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20100724201041/http://www.chifasanjoylao.com/historia.html | archivedate = 24 July 2010 }}</ref><ref>''La Aventura Culinaria'' television program; episode: "La Aventura del Chifa Especial" (Lima, 2010?)</ref> Other notable chifas in the neighborhood include the Salón China, Wa Lok, and Sala Capón.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/401476 | title = Our Lima Perú Restaurant Reviews | publisher = CHOW | work = CHOWHOUND > Latin American & Caribbean | author = Aledm | date = 14 May 2007 | accessdate = 22 January 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite book | title = Fodor's Peru | url = https://archive.org/details/isbn_9781400019694 | url-access = registration | location = New York | publisher = Fodor's Travel | year = 2008}}</ref>
Barrio Chino is the headquarters for several of the Chinese associations. There are also several temples and oracles, such as the oracle of [[Guan Yu|Lord Guan]] at the Kuan Tai Kung Temple, which is administered by the Pun Yui society,<ref>{{cite web | url = https://oraculodekuankong.blogspot.com/2010/02/el-oraculo.html | title = Oraculo de Kuan Tai Kung | publisher = Sociedad Pun Yui | accessdate = 22 January 2012}}</ref> and temples dedicated to Lord Guan and other Deities run by the Ku Kong Chao and Tungshing associations.<ref name=APC/>
Several [[Chinese-language]] journals are based here. ''La Voz de la Colonia China'' ("The Voice of the Chinese Colony") is published every Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday. ''Ch'iao Pao'' is published thrice weekly and is also circulated to other Peruvian cities.<ref name="APC-comment">{{cite web | url = http://www.apch.com.pe/portal/comment/reply/122 | publisher = Asociación Peruan China | title = Voceros de la Colonia: Registro del Devenir de la Comunidad China en el Perú | language = Spanish | date = 30 January 2008 | archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20081016085332/http://www.apch.com.pe/portal/comment/reply/122 | archivedate = 16 October 2008}}</ref> ''Man Chin Po'', the Americas' oldest Chinese-language newspaper, was published there on Wednesdays and Saturdays starting in 1911, but it ceased publication in 2002.<ref name="APC-comment"/>
==See also== *[[Chinese Peruvians]] *[[Chifa]]
== References == {{Reflist}}
{{Districts of Lima and Callao}} {{Chinatowns in Latin America}} {{Authority control}} {{Coord|-12.050957|-77.025769|display=title}}
[[Category:Lima District]] [[Category:Asian diaspora in Peru]] [[Category:Restaurant districts and streets]] [[Category:Tourist attractions in Lima]] [[Category:Chinatowns in South America]] [[Category:Neighbourhoods in Lima]]