Residents participate in the celebrations of the Chinese New Year, in Buenos Aires, capital of Argentina, Jan. 30, 2016. [Xinhua/Martin Zabala]

Starting in 1849, and until 1874, the Chinese community in Peru became more visible with the arrival of 150,000 Chinese contract workers, who would come for eight-year periods.

Peru's Chinese community has produced high-profile cultural and academic figures, such as Pedro Zulen Aymar, Emilio Choy Ma and Victor Li-Carrillo Chia, known respectively for their work in favor of the country's indigenous minorities, in the field of history and in philosophy.

The Chinese community has also given the country well-known musicians Blanca Wong, Eva Ayllon and Pedro Mina, and writers and poets, such as Manuel Li and Enrique Li.

In addition to Peru, Chinese New Year celebrations also are held in various countries across Latin America.

In Argentina's capital Buenos Aires, Chinese New Year celebrations draw hundreds of thousands of residents, so many, in fact, that the venue had to be changed to accommodate them all.

In 2011, some 15,000 people attended the celebrations. By 2014, that number had ballooned to 450,000 people over two days. This year, even more fans of China and Chinese culture had been expected to attend.

With that in mind, the celebrations, which used to take place at the city's famed China Town, were moved to a larger location: the National Parks plaza, in the city's northern Nunez district.

At the opening ceremony of the series of celebrations on Feb 6, China's ambassador Yang Wanming greeted top officials, including Vice-President Gabriela Michetti and Buenos Aires Mayor Horacio Rodriguez Larreta.