Name: Introduction to Hong Kong Mahjong
Start: 2025-12-16T18:30:00-05:00
Location: Watertown Free Public Library

The Chinese American Association of Watertown (CAAW) invites you to learn Hong Kong/Cantonese style mahjong – a tile-based game of skill, strategy, and luck that is quite different from the tile-matching game you may have encountered in computer games. Instead, 4 players gather around a table and compete to outwit their opponents and be the first to make a winning hand of 14 tiles.
If you are already familiar with Chinese mahjong (144 tiles), you may or may not be playing the version being taught at this event! Hong Kong/Cantonese mahjong differs from American mahjong (166 tiles) and does not use jokers or wilds. It is also distinct from Taiwanese mahjong—which we have previously taught—that uses 16 tiles as base and wins with 17 tiles. Scoring, therefore, also differs from Taiwanese style.
A favorite pastime of many, we will learn the basics of the game by playing a demonstration hand where each player’s tiles are revealed (face up) and discuss strategy when deciding whether to pick up discarded tiles. The tiles we will use will have numbers carved into the corners so you do not need to know how to read Chinese characters to play!
Since 4 players are required for each table, this session can guarantee the first 12 players a seat at the table. Registrants on the waitlist are encouraged to come watch the demonstration and learn—in fact, it may be even easier to learn by watching!—and will have the opportunity to sit down when seats open up.
The Chinese American Association of Watertown is a newly formed cultural group dedicated to fostering cultural unity, community empowerment, and social integration for individuals of Chinese heritage in the Watertown area.
Note: Chinese mahjong is a game of patterns and strategy, requires quick thinking, motor dexterity, and arm reach for drawing and discarding physical tiles on a square table. Therefore, this session is recommended for ages 12 and up.