Traditional Chinese Games

 


Enjoy some of these traditional Chinese games with your family, perhaps when you are learning about China or celebrating Chinese New Year. Some of them may seem familiar to you, as they are similar to games that we already know. But many of them give us an interesting insight into another culture and are an excellent way of extending your studies on China.

Traditional Chinese Games

Cat Catching Mice

Cat Catching Mice

This traditional Chinese chase game can cause much screeching and excitement! Play outdoors - or indoors, if you have a large room. It is also known simply as "Cat and Mouse".

Catch The Dragon's Tail

Catch The Dragon's Tail

This traditional Chinese game is great fun for the playground. You will need a large group of children - at least 10, but the more the merrier! The kids can be any age.

Catching Seven Pieces

Catching Seven Pieces

Originally played with small inch-square rice bags, this traditional Chinese game is similar to Jacks and Knucklebones and can be played with either, or even a collection of pebbles, if you don't want to make your own "pieces".

Chess For Kids

Chess For Kids

Chess is an excellent game for kids. It teaches them strategic thinking, logic and it's fun, too! We have the rules of Chess, here, written so that children can understand them. Read online or download a printable version.

Chinese Ball

Chinese Ball

This traditional Chinese playground game develops children's ball skills and their concentration - it really keeps them on their toes! It is probably best for children aged 6 or older and can be played indoors or outdoors.

Chinese Fortune Sticks

Chinese Fortune Sticks

When I was young, growing up in Hong Kong, the sight (and sound) of Chinese fortune sticks like these being used at temples was very familiar and exciting to me. Bundles of these sticks were placed in jars and gently shaken until a few sticks stuck out above the rest, or fell out.

Fingers Out

Fingers Out

This is a simple guessing game for which you just need two kids! Great for passing the odd waiting moment or car journey.

Age: Any

Forcing The City Gates

Forcing The City Gates

Forcing The City Gates is a traditional Chinese game for boys - and one which requires a fair amount of energy and some outside space to play! This game can get rough.

Four Seasons Game

Four Seasons Game

The Four Seasons game is a traditional Chinese game used to teach the names and order of the four seasons in a classroom or group setting.

Going To Town

Going To Town

This traditional girl's Chinese chase game can be played with a large group of kids - or just two. Boys enjoy it too, and it causes much giggling! Children have to learn to work together in this activity. It works with any age group.

Hawk Catching The Young Chicks

Hawk Catching The Young Chicks

This is a traditional Chinese chase game, to be played outdoors. It is a good game to play with a mixed age-group.

Age: Any

Honour

Honour

This is a simple, traditional Chinese boy's game which needs no props!

Age: Any

Hopping Chicken

Hopping Chicken

This traditional Chinese game can be played with two players or in two teams, indoors or out. It is similar to Hopscotch. It works well for children aged about 6 or over.

Knocking The Stick

Knocking The Stick

This is a traditional Chinese game, played outdoors by boys of all ages and needing nothing more than a few sticks and some dirt or reasonably flat ground.

Look For Gold

Look For Gold

This girl's traditional Chinese game is similar to Jacks or Knucklebones, and is played with a collection of pebbles.

Age: Any

Moon Cake

Moon Cake

This traditional Chinese playground game reinforces addition skills. It is good to play with a class of kids, divided into teams, and can be adapted to suit different ages. It can be very exciting! Best played with kids aged 5 and over.

Shuttlecock Games

Shuttlecock Games

The shuttlecock - a flying object made out of feathers, known to most of us through badminton, has been used traditionally in kicking games of skill in China.

Striking The Stick

Striking The Stick

This traditional Chinese outdoor game requires a certain amount of skill, practise and ingenuity, as well as some flat ground.

Throw Coins

Throw Coins

This is a traditional Chinese boy's game, similar to marbles. Children "win" coins in this game, so you will need to decide whether to play with real coins as the prize or to claim them back at the end!

Throwing Fists

Throwing Fists

This traditional Chinese game can be played by 2 players or quite a large group. It develops quick thinking, addition and logic skills - but it's also fun!

Throwing The Square

Throwing The Square

Throwing The Square is a traditional Chinese game which can be played with two players or teams, indoors or out.

Age: 5 up

Preparation:

Tiu-u (Fishing)

Tiu-u (Fishing)

This game of Chinese dominoes may sound complicated but is in fact very simple to play. The name ‘fishing’ comes from the idea that players ‘fish’ for matching dominoes. The game was originally played with bone or wood dominoes.

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