Table of Contents
- Top 5 Best Chinese Chess Set
- 1. Hey! Play! Chinese chess – Best for Fun-filled Experience
- 2. Elloapic Beechwood Xiangqi Chinese chess set – Best for Long-term Use
- 3. Yellow mountain imports Chinese chess (xiangqi) – Best for Relaxation whiles Traveling
- 4. Homyl Exquisite Retro Chinese Chess – Best for Beginners
- 5. Goodplay Beechwood Chinese chess set – Best for Improving Intellect
- What to consider when buying the best Chinese chess set
- F.A.Q
- Conclusion
Chinese chess game, Xiangqi is a fascinating game for children and adult alike. This board game also called, “the elephant game of the orient” is one of the most popular games played by millions in China, Singapore, Thailand, Honk Kong and most east Asian countries. And gradually it is becoming widely accepted in America and all around the world.
Chinese chess game, Xiangqi is a variant of the traditional and popular chess game in the western world. It comes with little twist to its prohibitions and rules. At a glance, you’ll easily notice the first fair difference, the chess pieces are positioned on the intersection of the lines, which is quite different from traditional chess, where the piece are positioned within the square.
Its rules prohibit the direct face-off of two generals, making it a more interesting game compared with the traditional chess where that’s possible. Also, its rules prohibit the elephant from crossing the board separation river at the two halves. There are other rules of pleasant surprises to even grandmasters of the European chess game.
To save you time and effort now that you’ve decided to give this game a try, we’ve helped you select six of the best Chinese chess sets available in the market and are reviewed below.
Top 5 Best Chinese Chess Set
1. Hey! Play! Chinese chess – Best for Fun-filled Experience
Have you been thinking of the best game to buy for your children? Maybe you’ve been wondering of what to do to keep your family engaged without losing fun and the great feel of family union. GRACIAS… you’ve just come across a product that suits your needs.
The Hey! Play! Chinese chess is an incredible game for beginners as it keeps the vibes in experienced players. The board and chess are made with durable MDF wood which gives ruggedness and longevity. It comes with a fine finish and lean lines which gives its attractive look.
The Chinese chess board can be folded easily for storage and ease of movement. It is also portable enough, you can take it along to the office, trips and outings. This product is a great game that can be used to teach your children to think strategically, improve their eye-hand coordination, sensitivity and general control. It also gives adults the challenge of learning a new game. In a nutshell, this game is a perfect blend of creativity and fun.
Pros
- Well designed and durable.
- Great learning tool
- Suitable for all level of chess players ranging from beginners to professionals.
Cons
- Water can have devastating effect on the board
2. Elloapic Beechwood Xiangqi Chinese chess set – Best for Long-term Use
Some traditional games might be perceived as boring, old fashioned and unbeneficial, NOT THIS ONE. Chinese chess is one the world’s oldest puzzle games and it is still very popular in countries with Chinese values.
The Elloapic Beechwood Xiangqi, Chinese chess set brings you this intellectual game in an attractive package without losing any of its core characteristics. It is a high quality and strong product with the chess made from beechwood. The chess board is made from metal, while the skin is covered with thin leather to provide protection.
The chess box can be folded at which point it will serve as a box where the chess pieces can be kept and protected. The size (about 4cm diameter) is also an advantage as it increases ease of transportation. This game is not only meant for fun, it increases the intellectual and logical capacities of frequent players as it is officially one of the competitions of the first world intellectual games.
Pros
- Made with strong materials which gives longevity.
- Convenient and can be taken to any location of interest.
- Improves the memory and general control of frequent players.
Cons
- The supposed-latch to keep the box closed is not strong.
3. Yellow mountain imports Chinese chess (xiangqi) – Best for Relaxation whiles Traveling
Have you ever been wary of people mistakenly disorganizing your chess while moving along its axis? Or you want to take your game along with you and play on the go, while travelling around the world with relative ease. Then this product will meet your expectations.
The yellow mountain imports Chinese chess is a blessing of a game with tremendous features. The board and the playing pieces are magnetic which improves the ease of playing and reduces the rate at which disruption can occur either through wind or human mistakes. The board is portable (12.75 x 6.7 x 1.75 inches when folded) and lightweight and can be easily carried from one place to another with ease.
On the upside, the playing pieces can be easily stored in the board when it is folded without having to worry about misplacing any of the pieces. The jade-colored playing pieces are just absolutely beautiful and pleasing to the eye. All in all, this product is designed to give you absolute satisfaction and fun.
Pros
- The board and the playing pieces are magnetic which reduces disruption
- Portable and can be folded for comfortable carriage.
- Playing pieces remain safe as they can be kept in the folded board.
Cons
- The magnetic strength between the board and pieces is not that great.
4. Homyl Exquisite Retro Chinese Chess – Best for Beginners
Chinese Chess might have been perceived as a difficult game to learn and play, but with Homyl Exquisite Retro Chinese chess you can learn the beautiful game easily and at your comfort. Homyl Chinese chess is specially designed to enhance the speed of thought and sensitivity.
The foldable chess board is designed with imitation leather, which gives a smart look and feel and it has stereoscopic chess pieces. It has a unique design and fine workmanship that separates it from other chess games and gives it an attractive look. It is portable and takes less space, you can be move it around easily.
This game is smart, attractive and easy to learn. It is perfect for advancement of thought, sensitivity, home leisure, challenges and entertainment. Also, it’s the perfect gift for any close chess lover, as it will give positive vibes to keep playing the game they love. As games go, this is absolutely top-notch and a thing of beauty, creativity and entertainment.
Pros
- Portable and doesn’t take much space.
- Unique design.
- Easy to learn and doesn’t cause confusion.
Cons
- The folding joint may stretch the board over time
5. Goodplay Beechwood Chinese chess set – Best for Improving Intellect
The intellectual strength of a man is undoubtedly a strong certification for his credibility. Goodplay Beechwood Chinese chess set has all the tools to improve human memory, calmness, local reasoning and overall control.
Goodplay Beechwood Chinese set is one of those products that bring you this advantageous game in a modern package without forfeiting its basics. It combines attractiveness with longevity and while also boasting ease of transportation. The chess board is made of leather, giving it strength against twists and turns. It also has a paper box for securing the chess.
The 32 chess pieces are made from beechwood and extremely well carved and fine around the edges to give an incredible hand feel. You’ll find it easy to transport because of its weight and size with the box being 14.5 x 14.5 x 4.5cm, the chess box 40 x 45.5cm, and each of the chess pieces being 3.4cm in diameter and 1.3cm in height.
Pros
- Portable and transported with relative ease.
- Made from attractive and long lasting materials.
- Improves focus and logical thinking skills.
Cons
- Can get smelly at times and doesn’t come with instruction.
Now that you’ve decided to give the Chinese chess game a try, after identifying what your purpose is, it’s imperative you consider some factors if your investment is to be worthy. These factors are explained below.
What to consider when buying the best Chinese chess set
Material and durability
Generally, Chinese chess board are made of different materials, the commonest of which are: woods, plastics, leather, papers and metals, each having effect on its corresponding board price. A plastic board can be more expensive than a paper or wooden board, but will offer the durability and water proofing ability which the later duo lacks.
Yes, a paper board can be easily foldable and packed into tiny package (like your pocket), but it’s not as durable as a metal board. A metal board can withstand the emprises of kids’ carefree attitude but comes at a bit additional price. Also a paper board may lack the elegant and polished look of a plastic board but it price can make you choose it. Hence, selecting a chess board is a function of purpose and desire.
In addition, the chess pieces’ material is also a similitude of the board in all ramifications, what A lacks, B might give at an additional cost and vice versa.
Portability
The portability of any chess set to some extent, is a dictate of its materials. Materials have great impact on the packaging and carriage of your chess board. It is worthy of mentioning that some chess board cannot be folded, they are designed to be a flat board, thus restricting it carriage ability. Some can be folded into two halves, as they have hinge joint at the center of the board, aiding it to be easily packed. Likewise, you can fold some board into a paper-like package and carry them in your pocket.
Appearance and design
Chinese chess is one kind of an ancient bored game with its history lost in the mist, and its appearance can be a great interest swinger. For non-Asian players, it can be perceived primitive and old, if not coated with creativity.
Modern manufacturers are coming up with exquisite designs to give Xiangqi a befitting modern look that can pique interest and make a motivational and inviting game for young and old alike. Also, some chess sets are built with magnetic property, so your pieces remain intact and on-point in case of slight movement or disturbance. Meaning, you can even play on the go.
Price
It is a universal perception that, pricey product in a given category are more durable and offer satisfactory life expectancy than their cheaper companion. To some extent and not every time, that’s true.
Your concern as a consumer should not always be the price, rather it’s to get that which match and befit your purpose without you needing to break the bank, and without compromising your purpose. If you’re buying Chinese chess set for kids, you may consider a sturdier product that children can be careless and carefree with. Whereas as an adult you can get some lesser durable products that you can handle.
But generally, all Chinese chess set on the marketplace are more than affordable for anyone with genuine interest, compared with the tradition chess board game.
Feedbacks
As this product is gradually gaining popularity in the western world and market places, you can consider getting feedbacks from players that have history of purchase. In fact, it is a good starting point to investigating what your money will be spent on.
Feedback from customers id one of the most reliable testimonies you can use in making your decision, they are always true in their commendations and recommendations. It’s also advisable you join an online community of like-minded Chinese chess players.
People in China, Thailand, Vietnam and Asia can easily get one in their immediate local store after verifying its durability, usability, design and functionality from neighbors or even at the purchasing point. As an online buyer, you can achieve the same by taking your time to not only read what the manufacturer said it products does, but also look at the product rating by consumers who have used the product.
F.A.Q
- Is Chinese chess set a one player game?
No, it’s just like the traditional chess game, it is a two player game. But it’s possible you find an online version or app where you can play alone versus computer.
- Are the game instructions written in English?
Yes, some pages inside the package have comprehensive instructions written in English language.
- Are characters printed on both side of the board?
No, the characters are only available on one side of the playing board, however some paper board may have character printed on both sides.
Conclusion
Now you can boast to a considerable extent, you’ve learnt the in and out of making Chinese chess set purchase decisions. Try and apply the above criteria before selecting your next chess set and don’t forget your purpose of venturing into this.
For yourself or someone else, you need to set right your priority, from the price, durability, design, material to portability, and you will be glad you’ve made the right choice, because you made an informed choice.
Last update on 2023-03-20 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
