Street games:

You’ll see the aging population playing plenty of street games under the blossoming greenery that lines housing estates and municipal parks.Mahjong, a sophisticated and complex domino game as well as Chinese Chess will be played out for hours at a time. It’s worth stopping and watching for a few moments. This is not considered rude at all; looking at someone’s private game is perfectly acceptable. The Chinese are very communal people and often lack the privacy that many Westerners favour. Chinese Chess uses characters, engraved onto wooden blocks and played out on a grid. This is a great souvenir to take back – but you may want to learn how to play before you leave China because the rules differ considerably from that of Western Chess! A great way to mingle with ordinary folk is to have a game or three of snooker (or pool). This familiar pursuit is often found outside street bars and in parks. Young guys will love the chance to have a game with you and defeat is never taken badly. This is an inexpensive way to relax, chat with the locals and drink beer during the summer nights.