Exploring China by learning mahjong

A workshop in a Beijing hutong shows travelers and expats the basics

On a recent Sunday morning, people from around the world gather around two tables in a hutong.

Chi, peng and hu - the Chinese words to call out mahjong deals - are frequently shouted. The players consist of travelers and expats in Beijing, and they've come to the hutong to attend a mahjong workshop.

"Most beginners say it's quite easy to learn the basics of mahjong," says Ilya Cheremnikh, founder of Culture Yard, a language school and culture center that provides mahjong workshops for beginners.

Cheremnikh started the mahjong workshop four years ago. He initially offered mahjong class for employees from foreign companies as a kind of team building activity. Then he found that foreign travelers also had an interest in the game.

Mahjong is a unique way to experience Chinese culture, says Cheremnikh. "When you walk down a street in China, no matter city you're in, you can always find people playing it. It's part of the culture," says the 32-year-old Israeli.

The crazy popularity of the game across China surprised Cheremnikh when he first visited the country six years ago. He traveled to small villages in Southwestern China's Sichuan province, and noticed that many homes didn't have televisions, but they did have fancy automatic mahjong tables.

"For many people, it's a part of their livelihood," Cheremnikh says.

One of the participants at Sunday morning's workshop was Jelle Alsemgeest, from the Netherlands. Alsemgeest brought along his parents so they could experience this part of Chinese culture.