Chancay is a small city located north of Lima. Its population is 63,378. The Chancay culture was a pre-Columbian archaeological culture, later part of the Inca Empire.
The small city is the site of the Chancay Mega-port, a deep water port built by China as part of its Belt and Road Initiative. The port began operations in November 2024, speeding shipment of resources from Peru to China.
The modern settlement was founded in 1562 under the name of Villa de Arnedo.
The main activity in Chancay these days is as a tourist resort for nearby Lima. The main attraction is El Castillo, a faux castle, recently repaired but constructed in the nineteenth century. There is a small museum in the castle displaying Chancay culture pottery and mummies.
The port of Chancay began operation in November 2024 and was formally opened by General Secretary of the Chinese Communist Party Xi Jinping. Several observers, as noted in the references, are concerned that the port area is owned by China not by Peru and that the port is private, not public like other Peruvian ports. COSCO Shipping is the exclusive operator and user of the port, unless Peru is successful in negotiating that others may use the port. China wants to speed the travel time of resources like copper from Peru to ports in China, and this port is anticipated to take 10 days off the shipping time. Concerns have risen internationally about possible use of the port as a Chinese military base. Concerns have also been raised about reparations for damaging effects of the construction in nearby areas, particularly from a tunnel that is part of the port complex.
New railways are proposed to serve this port.
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