Chinese in Peru: 175 years of integration

At first glance, the Chinatown in Lima, Peru, looks similar to those in other parts of the world, the bustling streets dotted with red lanterns and pagoda-style architecture. But unlike other Chinatowns, Chinese faces are surprisingly scarce in the crowds here.

"That's because Chinese people are the owners," said Andrea Janampa, as she worked behind the counter of a bubble tea shop. Her husband, Steven Lu, the shop's owner, represents the modern Chinese Peruvian business community.

The couple met 12 years ago in Peru, when Lu was a trading agent based in Yiwu, Zhejiang province, and Janampa was importing Chinese merchandise from there. Two years and four shops later, they built a thriving business selling Asian snacks and drinks in Lima's Chinatown.