It was a bit surprising to find out that the main road from Trujillo Airport to the city center is cut through one of the Peruvian most interesting archaeological sites and a World Heritage Site of Chan Chan, so during my three days visit to Trujiilo, I had a chance to see the view of countless eroding mud ruins of Chan Chan at least five times. I decided to make a proper visit in the Afternoon as recommended by a hotel concierge for less tourists and better light. Before I visited Chan Chan, a taxi driver took me to see two beautiful small Chimu temples, Huaca del Dragon or Arco Iris and Huaca Esmeralda. I really impressed the figures craved on the adobe wall of Huaca del Dragon, which in my opinion more impressive than Chan Chan.

Then I proceeded to Chan Chan. The size of Chan Chan is really amazing even though the only thing I saw is the ruins of high wall which are eroding and waiting for the restoration. Only small area of this vast area has been restored and called Palacio Nik An. When I arrived the palace, I found the whole complex was under some kind of construction. The authority was building the large bamboo shelter as they predicted that from El Nino phenomenon, there will be numerous rainfalls for couple of years, so in order to protect all adobe buildings from rain erosion, the whole complex need a protective roof. The most impressive thing of Chan Chan is its motif that decorated on the wall throughout the complex. The motif is related to ocean and sky. My guide explained to me that the whole palace I saw are mostly a reconstruction and the original ones are covered by the plastic copy. He even asked me to touch the surface, and I was a bit shock that it was indeed a plastic! However, in my opinion I am OK for this kind of restoration as it is still better to let the real one to be eroded by time. My guide also showed me the tomb of king and sacred pond which are really interesting.

Chimu Culture is really unique in my opinion, the way they built the new palace and sealed the old one after the king’s pass away reminded me the similar practice of ancient Japanese that moved capital every time the new emperor reigned. When I discussed this matter with the guide, he surprised and told me that recent study of ancient pottery found that some Chimu potteries have many similarities with ancient Japanese potteries and there is a legend that the Chimu people came from the different side of Pacific! Anyway, Chan Chan complex is really a great place to visit and explored other civilization other than the famous Inca, and another great World Heritage Site in fascinating country of Peru.