Over the past two centuries, large numbers of Chinese immigrants have crossed the oceans to settle in Peru, blending their heritage with local traditions. Today, Chinese-Peruvian cuisine, known as "Chifa", is celebrated as a unique culinary fusion and a beloved part of Peru's cultural identity.
Studies have shown that an estimated 2.5 to 3.1 million people in Peru have Chinese ancestry, accounting for about 10 percent of the country's total population. Over time, Chinese immigrants and Peruvians have blended Chinese and Peruvian cultures, creating a uniquely Peruvian style of Chinese cuisine.
In the heart of Lima's historical district lies one of the Western Hemisphere's oldest Chinatowns. The streets are dotted with restaurants proudly displaying "Chifa" signs -- a term derived from the Chinese phrase for "having a meal" but now synonymous with Peruvian-Chinese cuisine.
Fried rice is a standout favorite in Chifa cuisine, complemented by popular dishes like rice with stir-fried toppings, chow mein, fish-flavored shredded pork, vinegar-sauteed shredded potatoes, stir-fried tenderloin, dumplings, and wontons. Many food enthusiasts regard Peruvian-Chinese cuisine as the pinnacle of Latin American Chinese food, thanks to its masterful blend of culinary traditions and flavors.
"(Local people like) teppanyaki-style stir-fried vegetables with lots of meat in them. Another popular dish is Peking Duck. And we have this (specialty dish) -- fried wontons. In China, wontons are not fried; they are served in soup. But in Peru, people love making fried wontons, paired with a sweet and sour sauce," said Luo Huantian, manager of a Chinese restaurant in Lima.
"We receive about 300 to 500 customers every day. We are grateful for the support of so many customers. Our food is incredibly delicious and diverse," said Joseph, another restaurant manager.
Many Peruvians say they have been accustomed to dining at Chinese restaurants for as long as they can remember, with Chinese cuisine becoming an integral part of their diet. According to local media estimates, there are approximately 50,000 Chinese restaurants in Peru. Today, Chinese cuisine not only enriches Peru's culinary culture but also serves as a bridge for cultural exchange between China and Peru.
"The dishes here are all excellent. My favorite is the noodles, and the pork here is also very delicious," said a diner at a Chinese restaurant.
"I really enjoy Chinese snacks, such as shrimp dumplings, shumai, and the wide variety of dim sum," said another local diner.
Fusion culinary traditions amplify cultural exchanges between China, Peru
China will take more effective measures to improve people's wellbeing, especially in education, healthcare, and social security, an official said Thursday in Beijing at a press conference on the interpretation of this year's government work report, which was submitted to the national legislature for deliberation earlier in the day.
Shen Danyang, head of the government work report drafting team and director of the State Council Research Office, said centering on enhancing educational equity and quality, the report made arrangements for education at all educational stages and of all types.
"Regarding preschool education, the policy of free education in the year prior to entering primary school will continue to be implemented this year, which is commonly referred to as free admission to the senior class of kindergartens. So, how can the income reduction of kindergartens be addressed? Subsidies will be provided by both the central and local governments, with the central government taking the lion's share. This year, the funds allocated to support the development of preschool education will increase significantly by 37.8 percent to ensure the implementation of the beneficial policy," he said.
Regarding senior high school education, Shen said the report stated that the supply of regular senior high school places will be increased,
Specifically, for areas with a continuous net inflow of population, a number of regular high schools will be planned and constructed on an annual basis. For regions with a temporary shortage of school places, priority will be given to the renovation and expansion of existing teaching buildings, student dormitories and canteens, he said.
Shen said the report put forward many supportive measures in healthcare.
"For instance, it urged efforts to strengthen coordination in drug use at the grassroots level, which mean improving the list of essential drugs, and optimizing the channels for drug supply and drug use coordination between upper- and lower-level medical and health institutions to make it more convenient for the public to use drugs at their doorstep. Besides, the report has made arrangements for supporting the development of innovative drugs for the third consecutive year. This year, China will strengthen the coordination of supportive policies in an all-round way, further address issues such as the barriers facing innovative drugs entering hospitals, and better meet the diverse medical and medication needs of the people," he said.
In terms of social security, Shen said the report proposed to continue raising the minimum standard of basic pensions for urban and rural residents -- a policy will benefit over 180 million elderly people.
"The central government will allocate 1.25 trillion yuan (about 181.25 billion U.S. dollars) in subsidy funds to ensure the timely and full payment of pensions. In response to the insufficient protection of the rights and interests of people engaging in new occupations, the report proposed to steadily and orderly expand the scale of the pilot program for occupational injury insurance. This year, the policy will cover 31 provincial-level regions across the country and the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps. Meanwhile, enterprises specializing in travel, instant delivery and intra-city freight delivery will be included in the pilot program, which will ensure the safety of more laborers, such as food delivery workers and online car-hailing drivers," he said.
China to improve people's wellbeing in education, healthcare, social security: official
