Learn Mahjong in a Local Teahouse

Cultural context

Mahjong (麻将) is China’s beloved four-player tile game — part strategy, part luck, and entirely social. It’s played everywhere: in bamboo-chair teahouses, neighbourhood parks and family living rooms, with rules that vary from region to region.

What you'll do

1. 0:00

   Settle into a teahouse with a bottomless cup of tea and meet your host.

2. 0:20

   Learn the tiles, the goal, and the basics of building a winning hand.

3. 0:50

   Play real rounds at a relaxed pace, with tips after every hand.

4. 1:40

   A final game for fun, plus where to find drop-in tables around town.

Etiquette tips

• ✓Stack your tiles neatly into a wall — it is half the ritual.
• ✓Call “碰” (pèng) or “胡” (hú) clearly; locals play fast and friendly.

Good to know