Want to get in on the mahjong hype? Familiarise yourself with these basic Hong Kong mahjong rules!
Apart from playing board games and visiting game arcades, many Hong Kongers also gather for a game of mahjong from time to time. That’s right – despite its association with either mobsters or housewives in many Hong Kong action movies, mahjong is a household staple enjoyed by locals of all ages. Interested in learning more about this classic game? Join us as we delve into the origins and basic rules of playing mahjong in Hong Kong.
Earn your winnings with a game of mahjong in Hong Kong
What is mahjong?
Originating from 19th-century China, mahjong (麻雀) is a tile-based four-player game. While it’s popular as a daily passtime for the older generation, the game is most frequently played during festive seasons. For instance, during Lunar New Year, playing mahjong is as common an occurrence as seeing lion and dragon dances on the streets. In addition, families usually share mooncakes over a game of mahjong during Mid-Autumn Festival celebrations. People often play mahjong in Hong Kong while having dinner at a Chinese restaurant or singing karaoke, too. It’s simply a fun game to enjoy while gathering with your friends and family (though we’d advise against gambling)!
Basic Hong Kong mahjong rules
There are 144 tiles in a mahjong set, which are divided into six categories: Dot (筒子), Bamboo (索子), Character or Number (萬子), Wind (風牌), Arrow (箭牌), and Flower (花牌). (Since flower tiles don’t affect the final score in Hong Kong mahjong, we won’t go into detail about them here.) Dot, Bamboo, and Character tiles are varied by numbers, so the first Dot tile depicts one dot, while the last depicts nine dots. Within the Wind category, there are four types of tiles, each printed with the Chinese character for directions: East (東), South (南), West (西), and North (北). Finally, there are three types of Arrow tiles: “centre” (中), printed in red; “get rich” (發), printed in green; and a blue frame, known as the “white board” (白板).
Hong Kong mahjong is the easiest version of the game to learn. Each player starts with 13 tiles and takes turns drawing and discarding tiles, keeping your count at 13 until someone draws a 14th tile to complete a winning set. To win, you must arrange different tiles into four sets and a pair. The pair can be any two identical tiles, while the sets must be three identical tiles or three ascending tiles. For instance, three East Wind tiles or One Dot, Two Dots, and Three Dots tiles together will be considered sets.
Where to buy mahjong in Hong Kong
While there are mahjong rooms (麻雀館) around town, they mainly cater to senior locals. The majority of us prefer buying individual sets and playing in the comfort of our own homes. In addition, mahjong artisans are becoming increasingly rare and we should definitely support this incredible local tradition! So, now that you’re familiar with Hong Kong mahjong rules, it’s time to get yourselves a set from these mahjong shops.
1. Dai Lee Mahjong and Jade Ware (大利蔴雀玉器號)
With 60 years of experience under its belt, Dai Lee is where you can find finely crafted mahjong sets in Hong Kong. This local handicraft shop is one of the remaining few that sells hand-carved mahjong tiles. The patterns here tend to stick to the traditional designs, while the colours on the back of the tiles feature more variation. In addition, Dai Lee also sells mahjong tables, dice, and other game accessories.
Dai Lee Mahjong and Jade Ware (大利蔴雀玉器號), 211A Sha Tsui Road, Tsuen Wan, Hong Kong, p. 2492 2358
2. Ying Fat Cheung Mahjong
Another retailer selling handcrafted mahjong sets, Ying Fat Cheung gives tiles in a range of sizes. Whether you’re looking for a standard-sized mahjong set or small tiles that are easier to transport and store, you’ll find them at this store.
Ying Fat Cheung Mahjong, Unit 104, 1/F, Waga Commercial Centre, 99 Wellington Street, Central, Hong Kong, p. 2545 5554
3. Karen Aruba
Guided by her father, a master mahjong tile craftsman, artist Karen Aruba is a prominent figure among Hong Kong’s hand-carved mahjong scene. Working to preserve the art of mahjong tile carving and colouring, Karen Aruba hosts regular workshops on top of producing stunning mahjong sets, decorated with different themes and personalised designs for its The Art of Mahjong collection.
Shop Karen Aruba online.
4. Kung Yau Cheung Mahjong
Located in Mong Kok, Kung Yau Cheung Mahjong is a small store and workshop selling hand-crafted mahjong sets. Despite industrialisation taking over the traditional craft of mahjong tile carving, the owner of Kung Yau Cheung continues to create one-of-a-kind tiles using his own hands. Since you’ll be speaking with the artist himself, you can even personalise a set by adding on extra details and patterns to your tiles!
Kung Yau Cheung Mahjong, G/F, 661C Shanghai Street, Mong Kok, Hong Kong
5. Kam Fat Mahjong
Originally founded by a certain Mr Ho in 1962, Kam Fat Mahjong is a small-scale store and workshop run by his daughter Ho Sau-mei. This place sells mahjong sets hand-carved with traditional techniques. Not only is Ms Ho skilled at crafting complete sets, she’s also often commissioned for singular tiles to replace missing or broken ones.
Kam Fat Mahjong, 2 Bulkeley Street, Hung Hom, Hong Kong
6. Glocal Mahjong
Spice up your mahjong collection with a set from Glocal Mahjong. Founded by a mother-daughter duo, this mahjong specialist is more than just a retailer. Apart from selling mahjong sets from around the world alongside local creations, Glocal also hosts mahjong classes for beginners and creative workshops like mahjong tile colouring. The way Glocal injects contemporary flair into a cultural tradition spells hope for the future of mahjong making.
Shop Glocal Mahjong online or at its physical store at Shop S405, 4/F, PMQ, 35 Aberdeen Street, Central, Hong Kong, p. 2546 3178
