去年我在秘鲁呆了半年多,接触并了解了一些华人历史。据我所知,秘鲁是拉美地区华侨华人人数最多、移民历史最悠久的国家。据文献记载,明清时期就有中国商人、工匠、水手抵达秘鲁经商、做工。1849年,首批“契约华工”运抵秘鲁。1851年秘鲁宣布废除奴隶制,同时提出用华工代替黑奴。此后25年间约有10万名“契约华工”来到秘鲁开矿、垦荒、筑路……秘鲁闻名于世的中央铁路及许多重要的公路、矿山、港口,都凝聚着华工的生命和血汗。 Last year I spent half a year in Peru, contacted and understood some Chinese history. As far as I know, Peru is the country with the largest number of overseas Chinese and the oldest immigrants in Latin America. According to the literature, during the Ming and Qing dynasties, Chinese businessmen, artisans and sailors arrived in Peru to do business and work. In 1849, the first “Contract Chinese Workers” arrived in Peru. In 1851 Peru announced the abolition of slavery, at the same time proposed to replace the slaves with Chinese workers. Over the next 25 years, about 100,000 “Chinese laborers” came to Peru for mining, reclamation and road construction. Peru’s famous Central Railway and many important highways, mines and ports all embody the lives and bloodshed of laborers .