https://www.scmp.com/rss/502598/feed en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com Douglas Parkes Douglas Parkes In Hong Kong, the click-clack of mahjong tiles is part of the unofficial soundtrack to Lunar New Year. A staple at family gatherings, playing mahjong is more than something to do while making small talk with relatives you may not have seen all year. It can also represent a pursuit of good luck for the year ahead. Local craft brand Conspiracy Chocolate – known for its Coa and Bakehouse collaboration bars – is reimagining this cultural staple through a lens of fine cacao, launching a 13 Orphans... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/100-top-tables/article/3343445/conspiracy-chocolates-mahjong-set-unites-good-luck-and-tastiness-chinese-new-year?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/100-top-tables/article/3343445/conspiracy-chocolates-mahjong-set-unites-good-luck-and-tastiness-chinese-new-year?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 15 Feb 2026 02:00:17 +0000 Cat Nelson Cat Nelson It’s comforting – in an admittedly dystopian way – how well my algorithm gets me. Over the past few weeks, I’ve gone down a rabbit hole of horoscope content (both Eastern and Western) on Instagram. Wondering what the Year of the Fire Horse might hold for an Aquarius rabbit? My second-hand knowledge, absorbed from online pseudo gurus with questionable levels of expertise, can tell you (it’s looking bright, if you can believe them). I learned that the Fire Horse has something of a reputation. In... https://www.scmp.com/postmag/culture/article/3342591/week-postmag-lunar-new-year-and-meaning-home?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/postmag/culture/article/3342591/week-postmag-lunar-new-year-and-meaning-home?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 08 Feb 2026 04:45:13 +0000 Victoria Chan Victoria Chan You can hear it before you see it: the chaos and clatter of shuffling tiles, the rhythmic tap-tap as miniature walls rise, followed by calls of victory erupting across the table. For Connor Wan Cing-tsuen, this isn’t just a game but the heartbeat of his culture and an echo of a childhood spent watching relatives play. Now, he’s determined to pass it on to future generations. Once seen as a pastime for aunties and uncles, millennials and Gen Z in Asia and across the Chinese diaspora are... https://www.scmp.com/postmag/culture/article/3342450/how-mahjong-keeps-finding-new-tables-one-tile-time?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/postmag/culture/article/3342450/how-mahjong-keeps-finding-new-tables-one-tile-time?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 06 Feb 2026 04:00:14 +0000 Ashlyn Chak Ashlyn Chak Mahjong has been an integral part of Chinese social life since its invention in the mid-1800s, during the late Qing dynasty. It took less than a century to reach the West, with a simplified playing system developing in the United States in the 1920s. In modern-day Hong Kong, many older people play mahjong socially and to improve their brain health. The game is often played by people of all ages during festive occasions, as well as between strangers during competitive sessions at dedicated... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/chinese-culture/article/3340985/unlucky-lunar-new-year-chocolate-mahjong-set-sign-cultural-appropriation?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/chinese-culture/article/3340985/unlucky-lunar-new-year-chocolate-mahjong-set-sign-cultural-appropriation?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 25 Jan 2026 23:15:10 +0000 Foong Woei Wan Foong Woei Wan My friend is a millionaire by way of owning a home in Hong Kong, the world’s least affordable housing market, but you wouldn’t guess from how personally she takes it when the winds of fortune aren’t blowing her way at the mahjong table. “What now? What on earth do you want from me? This is crazy,” she growls while wrestling 13 tiles into some kind of order, burrowing through her hair for an answer, agonising over which tile is the least risky to discard. Somehow it often falls to me, the poor... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/asia-opinion/article/3325833/art-winning-and-beyond-mahjong-table?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/asia-opinion/article/3325833/art-winning-and-beyond-mahjong-table?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 20 Sep 2025 01:30:09 +0000 Associated Press Associated Press When Ryan Lee first played mahjong two years ago, he got hooked. He dug out sets of the classic Chinese tile game from his parents’ house and brought them to San Francisco, where he started hosting mahjong nights in his home. The gatherings became so popular that the 25-year-old Chinese-American began hosting pop-up mahjong parties in restaurants, bars and nightclubs around San Francisco. Mahjong, invented in 19th-century China, is gaining popularity with a new generation of players looking to... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/chinese-culture/article/3324859/how-mahjong-events-san-francisco-are-trending-gen-z-and-millennials?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/chinese-culture/article/3324859/how-mahjong-events-san-francisco-are-trending-gen-z-and-millennials?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 09 Sep 2025 09:15:08 +0000 Alice Yan Alice Yan A Mexican woman who has lived in Shanghai for 12 years and teaches foreigners there how to play mahjong has trended on social media. Over the past few years, the woman, identified as Carmen, has taught overseas students the traditional Chinese game every weekend in a restaurant in the city, the Shanghai Morning Post reported. Many of the students do not speak fluent Chinese, but they understand the mahjong terms, according to a viral video about Carmen’s class. They do not play the game for... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3314918/china-based-mexican-woman-teaches-foreigners-shanghai-how-play-mahjong?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3314918/china-based-mexican-woman-teaches-foreigners-shanghai-how-play-mahjong?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 24 Jun 2025 06:00:08 +0000 Mabel Lui Mabel Lui The game of mahjong brings back nostalgic memories for many among the Chinese diaspora. Maybe they remember the unmistakable clacking sound of the tiles being shuffled, or their relatives yelling out “pong!” from across the room, excitedly claiming the tile they had been waiting for. It is no different for Nicole Wong, who grew up around the game but never quite learned it herself until the summer after she graduated from university, in 2009. At the time, she was staying at her New... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/chinese-culture/article/3311213/how-learning-play-mahjong-helped-chinese-american-connect-more-deeply-her-roots?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/chinese-culture/article/3311213/how-learning-play-mahjong-helped-chinese-american-connect-more-deeply-her-roots?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 22 May 2025 11:15:07 +0000 Connor Mycroft Connor Mycroft Hongkonger Angus Hung Yiu-leung had never stepped foot inside a mahjong parlour despite having played the famous Chinese game for almost his whole life. So when he heard that the Hong Kong Mahjong Company was hosting an open house, he decided to take a chance on it. Entering the parlour in Wan Chai, he was pleasantly surprised to be greeted by the lively sounds of clacking tiles, punctuated by bouts of laughter and cheering from about 30 people there. “I used to imagine mahjong parlours to be... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3301583/all-about-mahjong-hong-kong-parlour-inducts-newbies-beloved-game?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3301583/all-about-mahjong-hong-kong-parlour-inducts-newbies-beloved-game?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 08 Mar 2025 01:00:25 +0000 1.5/5 stars In a match made in cinematic purgatory, Wong Jing’s exhaustive fascination with the gambling movie genre meets Patrick Kong Pak-leung’s brand of crass relationship drama in Queen of Mahjong. It’s a rare opportunity for the two critically maligned filmmakers to share directing credits and their mutual embrace of sexism. The cast of the ensemble comedy is mainly drawn from the roster of Hong Kong broadcaster TVB, with Samantha Ko Hoi-ning in her first leading role in a local feature.... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3296661/queen-mahjong-movie-review-lunar-new-year-comedy-let-down-jarring-sexism?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3296661/queen-mahjong-movie-review-lunar-new-year-comedy-let-down-jarring-sexism?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 29 Jan 2025 03:37:15 +0000 Keeping a level head during a heated mahjong round can take just as much mastery as winning the game itself. Mahjong is no different to any other game when it comes to expecting a certain level of sportsmanship from players. There is a term – “paai ban” in Cantonese and “pai pin” in Mandarin – which means “tile character” that describes a player’s conduct. Reactions to unexpected twists can be a reflection of their true temperament. Since money is often gambled in mahjong, the personal stakes... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3251358/how-you-play-mahjong-reveals-your-personality-constance-wus-rachel-showed-crazy-rich-asians-so-heres?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3251358/how-you-play-mahjong-reveals-your-personality-constance-wus-rachel-showed-crazy-rich-asians-so-heres?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 09 Feb 2024 10:15:14 +0000 Since the birth of mahjong in Qing dynasty (1644-1912) China, different versions of the game have developed around the world. The basic principles remain the same for the most part, but each version has its flair with unique tiles, rules and scoring systems. Keep scrolling as we take you on a global tour of mahjong and examine some of the most notable gameplay styles. Chinese classical mahjong There are many regional Chinese variants, which is why, in January 1998, the State Sports Commission of... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3251327/different-mahjong-versions-classical-chinese-game-american-mahjong-its-joker-tiles-and-japanese?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3251327/different-mahjong-versions-classical-chinese-game-american-mahjong-its-joker-tiles-and-japanese?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 08 Feb 2024 11:15:11 +0000 Having a good strategy will give you a major leg up in a game of mahjong, but nothing beats having luck on your side. The tabletop game is rife with taboos, so here are some tips on how to best avoid them. You never know – they could change the outcome of your game completely. 1. Do not let anyone pat you on the back Do not let anyone pat you on the back while playing, or place a hand on your shoulder. Keep losing in mahjong? You need to learn some winning strategies For some, a single pat or... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3251102/bad-luck-mahjong-4-game-taboos-avoid-shoulder-tapping-book-reading-and-way-improve-your-luck?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3251102/bad-luck-mahjong-4-game-taboos-avoid-shoulder-tapping-book-reading-and-way-improve-your-luck?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 07 Feb 2024 08:15:10 +0000 Audrey Chan Audrey Chan While luck plays a large part in the game of mahjong when it comes to getting a good hand, it is a game that requires plenty of thinking and keeping one step ahead of the other players. Here are five simple strategies to take your gameplay to the next level. 1. Watch others’ discards and be flexible with tiles you keep If you notice other players consistently discarding tiles of a particular suit, those tiles might not be useful for the hand they are trying to win with. How do you play mahjong,... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3250954/winning-mahjong-strategies-keeping-eye-other-players-playing-mind-games-your-own-hidden-tiles?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3250954/winning-mahjong-strategies-keeping-eye-other-players-playing-mind-games-your-own-hidden-tiles?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 06 Feb 2024 11:15:11 +0000 Audrey Chan Audrey Chan Mahjong is a tile game that is played in every corner of the world, and dates back to 19th century China and the late Qing dynasty era. It remains a popular activity for family gatherings and celebrations – especially during the Lunar New Year holiday. If you are new to the game, here is a simple guide to how to play, and win, a game of mahjong. Mahjong is typically played with four players seated around a square table. Although some versions only require three players, we will stick with the... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3250922/how-play-mahjong-and-how-win-mahjong-basic-rules-get-game-started-suits-winning-hands-and-what-say?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3250922/how-play-mahjong-and-how-win-mahjong-basic-rules-get-game-started-suits-winning-hands-and-what-say?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 05 Feb 2024 10:15:12 +0000 In the past 10 days or so since my hometown Wuhan went into lockdown due to the coronavirus outbreak, my mum has been outside just once, to take out the trash. Any other year around this time, she would be busy preparing food for Lunar New Year meals or playing mahjong – a tile-based strategic game known as China’s “national pastime” – with family members. But the lockdown, announced on January 23 – two days before the start of the Lunar New Year holiday – has left her to celebrate New Year’s... https://www.scmp.com/tech/how-tech-brings-together-families-separated-during-coronavirus-outbreak/article/3048684?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/how-tech-brings-together-families-separated-during-coronavirus-outbreak/article/3048684?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 03 Feb 2020 07:34:50 +0000 In one of the most riveting scenes from Crazy Rich Asians, Constance Wu’s character, Rachel Chu, squares off against her stern mother-in-law-to-be, Eleanor Young (played by Michelle Yeoh), in a game of mahjong. “My mom taught me how to play,” Chu tells Young. “She told me mahjong would teach me important life skills—negotiation, strategy, cooperation.” Dating back more than 100 years, the tile game is played in Chinese communities around the world. It’s a raucous affair that demands quick... https://www.scmp.com/culture/mahjong-china-origins-history/article/3048500?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/culture/mahjong-china-origins-history/article/3048500?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 31 Jan 2020 15:54:11 +0000 The hundred-year-old game of mahjong, often called China’s “national pastime,” is beloved and played across the country, as well as in many overseas Chinese communities. So when several Chinese cities tried to clamp down on it, people were up in arms. The latest city to do so, Shangrao in Jiangxi Province, ordered mahjong parlors and poker rooms in Yushan County and Xinzhou District to be closed this week, as part of efforts to crack down on vice. The mahjong parlors, the police said, were... https://www.scmp.com/culture/mahjong-ban-china/article/3034088?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/culture/mahjong-ban-china/article/3034088?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 22 Oct 2019 11:45:35 +0000