Thing to do
Puente de los Suspiros and Barranco
A walk through Barranco centred on the wooden Bridge of Sighs, first opened in 1876, with the Bajada de Baños path leading beneath it down to…
Barrio Chino and Calle Capón
Lima's Chinatown in Barrios Altos, centred on Calle Capón and Jirón Paruro, with its 1971 Chinese arch, community temples and the chifa restaurants it gave the city.
At a glance
- Type
- Neighbourhood walk and food
- Area
- Barrios Altos, Lima, Peru
Good to know
- Free
- Chifa restaurants
- Chinese arch
- Temples and community associations
Why we recommend it
Lima's Barrio Chino is the best place to understand the story of chifa, the Chinese-Peruvian cooking found all over the city. The first 75 Chinese immigrants arrived in Peru in 1849 to work on the haciendas of the coast at Cañete and Ica, and around 100,000 more followed over the next 25 years, many working on the railways and in guano extraction. By 1854 the Chinese community had already gathered around Calle Capón, next to the market, and the area has been its heart ever since.
The neighbourhood lies in Barrios Altos, on the edge of the historic centre. It covers mainly the first block of Jirón Ucayali and several blocks of Jirón Paruro, and Calle Capón is today the seventh block of Jirón Ucayali, facing towards the Mercado Central. The entrance is marked by the Chinese arch, donated by the community and inaugurated on 12 November 1971 by mayor Eduardo Dibós. Look up at the inscription, which says that under the same sky all people are brothers.
The community's institutions are part of the walk. The Tung Sing temple, run by the Tung Sing society and said to be the oldest Chinese temple in South America, dates from 1868 and honours Kwang Kung. The Sociedad Central de Beneficencia China, founded in 1882, is on Jirón Paruro, and the Chung Shan association on Jirón Azángaro teaches kung fu, tai chi and lion and dragon dance. The Mercadillo Chino on Calle Capón is good for browsing.
Food is the main reason most visitors come. Chifa cooking blends Cantonese roots with Peruvian ingredients, mixing sweet and savoury flavours, and its classics include tallarín saltado, sopa wantán, arroz chaufa, fried wontons and dim sum. Eat at one of the restaurants along Capón or Paruro, ideally in a group so you can share several dishes.
The barrio is free to explore and works best in daylight, combined with a visit to the Plaza Mayor and the San Francisco convent nearby. Allow two hours including a meal. As in any busy market area, keep valuables out of sight. If you enjoy the food, Chifa Titi in San Isidro, a family business that began near the Barrio Chino in the 1950s, offers a more formal version of the same tradition.
Barrio Chino and Calle Capón FAQs
Where is Lima's Barrio Chino?
In Barrios Altos, on the edge of the historic centre, mainly along Jirón Ucayali (including Calle Capón) and Jirón Paruro.
When did Chinese immigrants arrive in Peru?
The first 75 arrived in 1849, followed by around 100,000 over the next 25 years.
What is Calle Capón?
The seventh block of Jirón Ucayali, the historic heart of the Chinese community since the 1850s.
When was the Chinese arch built?
It was donated by the community and inaugurated on 12 November 1971.
What is chifa?
Chinese-Peruvian cooking that blends Cantonese roots with Peruvian ingredients.
What should I eat?
Classics such as tallarín saltado, sopa wantán, arroz chaufa, fried wontons and dim sum.
Is there a temple to see?
Yes, the Tung Sing temple from 1868, said to be the oldest in South America.
How long should I allow?
About two hours, including a meal.