Xiangqi (Chinese Chess)

strategy game · China · board game · chess family

Ancient Chinese game. Xiangqi has been played in China for over a thousand years and is the most popular board game there, loved by millions of people.

Special palace rules. Unlike regular chess, pieces can only move within a palace (a small square in the middle of the board), which completely changes how the game works.

Unique pieces matter. Xiangqi has pieces called elephants and advisors that don't exist in Western chess, and they move in completely different ways than any chess piece.

Popular across Asia. Besides China, xiangqi is loved in Vietnam (where it's called cờ tướng) and other countries with Chinese communities, making it one of Asia's biggest games.

Chess family cousin. Xiangqi is related to other ancient games like shogi from Japan and the original Indian game of chaturanga that inspired all chess games.