Pingyao: First Chinese Banks

About this board game

Pingyao: First Chinese Banks is an economic dice-as-workers placement game for 1–4 players, played in about 90 minutes. Set during the Qing Dynasty, it casts players as famous Jin merchants during the blossoming age of banking.

From the city of Pingyao, players expand across China by opening banking agencies and offering remittance services to businessmen. The nation’s banking network helps wealth accumulate, while each merchant works to grow their own financial enterprise and become the wealthiest player by the end of eight rounds.

Players assign their dice as workers to develop their businesses and pursue several routes to success. They can recruit reliable managers to oversee agencies and provide powerful abilities, while cash can be deposited to earn interest or offered as loans in exchange for government favors and fame.

• Open agencies across China and expand beyond Pingyao.
• Offer remittance services to earn profits.
• Recruit managers who grant powerful abilities.
• Deposit cash for interest or make loans for government favors and fame.

The game reflects the rise of the票號, or banking houses, founded by Jin merchants during the Daoguang period. Its focus on cash flow, banking expansion, loans, reputation, talent development, and cooperation with the government creates a broad economic challenge within a concise eight-round structure.

For solo players, Pingyao: First Chinese Banks includes a series of quests that provide a dedicated challenge. Whether played alone or with up to three opponents, the central objective remains clear: build the most successful banking operation and finish with the highest score.