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Xiangqi a Chinese board game for two, better known in the west as Chinese Chess. Each player controls an army of pieces, players take alternatle turns, moveing one piece at a time, trying to get the opponent's royal piece into checkmate or stalemate.

Popularity
Xiangqi has been played for more than a thousand years, and is considered to be the worlds most popular board game. Currently played by millions of people throughout China, Taiwan, Thailand, Singapore, Vietnam, Hong Kong and other Asian countries.

Age
Played by all ages, from the age of eight years upwards.

Ability
If you know how to play Chess, Xiangqi will be familiar. The general idea is the same. Xiangqi is a game of skill, experiance, tactics and stratagy.

Description
The traditional Xiangqi board is a grid of ten horizontal lines and nine vertical lines. The vertical lines are interrupted in the middle, so that the board appears as two grids of five horizontal lines by nine veritical lines. This interruption is called the river. It serves as a barrier to the Elephants. Other pieces can pass over it as though it's not there, Pawns gaining the ability to move sideways after crossing it.

Dedication
At the start of a game, the board is set, veiwing from left to right on the bottom and top rows, you see: a Chariot, a Horse, an Elephant, an Advisor, a General, an Advisor, an Elephant, a Horse, and a Chariot. On the third rows, you see the Cannons in front of the Horses, and on the fourth row you see the Pawns, one space between each Pawn. The side shown at the bottom of the board is normally Red, the other Black.

Closely Related Activities
Chess 68, Shogi 1036, Chaturanga 1037, Makruk 1038, Janggi 1041.

Level of Demand
The table below shows the maximum levels of demand that this activity requires. NOTE: These are not entry levels or levels of requirement and has nothing to do with ability.

Energy

Arms

Legs

Sight

Hearing

Speech

Learning

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