1. Majiang (Mah Jong)

The most popular Chinese New Year game, without a doubt, is Majiang (Mah Jong). The traditional Chinese game is played using tiles, and resembles the western game 'Rummy'. The game is usually played in groups of 4, and involves quite complex strategic and mathematic abilities, and is astounding to see Chinese people of all ages and generations play it quickly and effortlessly with a unique sleight of hand.

Many elderly homes are likely to have a Majiang table, or even dedicate a whole room to it, as it may be one of their most beloved leisure activities, and is not strictly a Spring Festival game, but a year-long hobby. Majiang is not an easy game to learn, and besides the quite complex strategy needed to play well, a pretty good understanding of Chinese characters will also be required as some tiles are labelled with them.

2. Dou Dizhu (Chinese Poker)

The second most popular game, that surely almost any Chinese can play, is known as Dou Dizhu, or 'Fight the Landlord' in English, and is a card game that in the modern day is commonly played with standard poker-card decks.

The fast-paced game is often referred to as the "Chinese poker", and is usually played in groups of three, and sometimes more. This game also has dozens of rule variations and playing styles depending on region. It is often said that the game is 'easy to learn but hard to master', and this may be a huge understatement, as the game requires extraordinary strategy just to even get through a few rounds. As the game is very fast-paced, it creates an exciting, loud, and tense atmosphere, making it an ideal Chinese New Year game!

3. Fortune-Telling (through games)

Chinese tradition has always included many activities related to fortune-telling and other superstitious practices, and this also takes form in card-reading.

Some Chinese New Year games involving cards, are meant and designed to predict the players' fortune in the coming year. Particularly during the Spring Festival, it is common for parents or grand parents to "read" the fortunes of their children using playing cards, and there are many different ways in which cards can be arranged in order to "predict" good or bad fortune in particular months of the new year.

4. Gambling

It is important to note that although the games mentioned above are essentially "gambling games", similar in style to poker, gambling is prohibited in the majority of Mainland China.

Of course, if playing at home with friends or family, using cash money or giving hongbao (red envelopes with money in) electronically using smartphones will normally be involved in the game without any issues. If playing such games outside, or in public 'game-room' settings, it is advised to exercise caution and avoid playing with money.

Having said that, culturally speaking; gambling has been loved by Chinese people for centuries and is why many traditional Chinese games are designed around the practice.

5. Lantern Riddles for Lantern Festival

Lantern Festival on Chineses New Year day 15 is traditionally the last day of Spring Festival, though nowadays most people return to work a week before.

A popular game during this festival when visiting a place is solving riddles affixed to brightly colored (mostly red) lanterns that are hung up everywhere in abundance.

According to chinahighlights.com. Source of photo: internet