China Rails

About this board game

China Rails is a crayon rail game for 2–6 players, with an approximate playing time of 240 minutes. Released in 2007, it takes the Empire Builder series to the People’s Republic of China and Taiwan.

Players build track across the map and use their growing rail network to make deliveries. As in other Empire Builder games, the central experience combines route construction with the challenge of connecting locations for transportation and delivery.

China Rails also introduces unique events tailored to its map. These events add features specific to the setting, including a Congress event, giving this entry its own identity while preserving its connection to the venerable Empire Builder series.

• Crayon-based railway construction
• Delivery-focused gameplay
• A map covering the People’s Republic of China and Taiwan
• Map-specific events, including a Congress event
• Support for 2–6 players

The game’s cards can encourage players to venture west in search of the biggest payoffs. This gives the map a clear directional emphasis: the rewards indicated by the cards may make journeys toward the western regions especially important during play.

For players familiar with the Empire Builder format, China Rails offers a recognizable rail-building and delivery experience with a distinct geographic setting. Its combination of crayon track, map-focused events, and westward opportunities makes it a substantial railway game for a larger group or an extended session.

Whether approached as another entry in the Empire Builder line or as a China- and Taiwan-themed route-building game, China Rails centers on building connections, completing deliveries, and responding to the opportunities presented by its map and cards.