China

About this board game

China is an abstract game of political influence for 3–5 players, with plays lasting about 45 minutes. Set in a country on the brink of a change in power, it challenges players to compete for dominance across nine regions.

Players use cards to place Houses and Emissaries into the regions on the board. When every House space in a region is filled, players score that region; regions are also scored at the end of the game. The player with the majority of Houses gains the regional advantage, making every placement an important tactical decision.

End-game scoring adds another layer of political maneuvering. Players score for having majorities of Emissaries in two adjacent regions, while Houses can also earn points by forming an uninterrupted sequence of four or more along one of the roads on the board.

• Compete for House majorities across nine regions.
• Use Emissaries to pursue scoring opportunities between adjacent regions.
• Build uninterrupted road sequences with four or more Houses.
• Choose from four face-up cards when planning your placements.

With simple-to-learn rules and a short playing time, China combines several tactical possibilities without becoming unwieldy. The game is based on Michael Schacht’s award-winning Web of Power, while introducing notable changes to scoring and card access.

Unlike its predecessor, China has no “half-time” regional scoring, offers four face-up cards instead of two, and provides Emissary scoring opportunities between all adjacent regions. A special variant featuring fortifications is included.