China
The Chinese took their cards with them wherever they travelled and traded in the East, and we find Chinese cards in use not only in the mainland but also in Hong Kong, Malaysia, Indonesia, Taiwan, Singapore, North Borneo and Vietnam.
Chinese Playing Cards
The Chinese took their cards with them wherever they travelled and traded in the East, and we find Chinese cards in use not only in the mainland but also in Hong Kong, Malaysia, Indonesia, Taiwan, Singapore, North Borneo and Vietnam.

Pulp Pin-Up
Classic 1940s Pulp Pin-Up covers on playing cards from China, c.2010.

Diaoyu Poker 8068
8068 by Diaoyu Poker (China) 2019.

Chinese Costumes
Chinese Costumes from the Winterthur Collection, published by Fournier, 1984.

Khanhoo
Khanhoo by Charles Goodall & Son, 1895.

Chinese Jokers
Chinese playing card makers have probably produced the widest variety of jokers of any single part of the world.

Characters of “The Water Margin”
Characters from the Chinese novel “The Water Margin” - 水滸撲克.

Hogwarts
Harry Potter Hogwarts playing cards, c.2016.

Tô Tôm №1204
Tô Tôm is played with a 120-card Chinese-style deck.

The Summer Palace
The Summer Palace, Beijing, China, c.1998.

Maxi Puke 201 Circus Poker
Maxi Puke 201 Circus Poker brand produced by Wenyu Paper Products, Shanghai.

57: China 3
A third and final look at some Chinese cards.

Hakka
“Double Happiness” brand Hakka [客家] playing cards used by Hakka ethnic communities who have a separate identity from Cantonese,

55: China 2
Some further American designs used in China.

Tam Cúc 三菊
Tam Cúc playing cards from Vietnam, based on Chinese chess, 2016

54: China 1
Although many people would not consider Chinese cards worth collecting, the huge variety of court designs used by the companies based in China, Hong Kong and Taiwan over the years should be of interest to those who like to enjoy variation in court cards, jokers and aces of spades.

Lucky Buddha Beer
Deck made in China in c.2010 advertising the Chinese brew “Lucky Beer, the enlightened beer”

Terracotta Army
Each card has a different photo of elements of the terracotta army whose purpose was to protect the emperor Qin Shi Huang in his afterlife.

Magic Poker Cards
“Magic Poker Cards” are often found inside Christmas crackers along with party hats, puzzles and jokes...

Terracotta Warriors of Emperor Qin
“Terracotta Warriors of Emperor Qin” collectible playing cards, made in China, c.2010.

Chinese Roles of Beijing Opera
A very impressive deck of cards featuring 54 different images from “Chinese Roles of Beijing Opera” published by HCG Poker Productions, 2005

Rūfa
Rūfa is a game designed by Ernest Legh and manufactured by De la Rue. The object is to build a pagoda with specially-designed cards without causing the building to collapse.

Four Colour Cards / 四色牌 / Si Sek Pai
Four Colour Cards made in Belgium for Far Eastern markets

Chinese Dragon Robes
Deck featuring 54 different images of Chinese Dragon Robes that emperors, empresses and royal family members wear on important occasions.

Chi Chi Pai
Chinese “Chi Chi Pai” Playing Cards by Mesmaekers Frères for Far East market, c.1890.

Mao Zedong & International Friends
Playing cards celebrating the story of the Chinese leader and statesman Chairman Mao / Mao Zedong & International Friends.

Mr. Men™
Mr. Men™ & Little Miss™ playing cards by Roger Hargreaves

Titicaca ® Playing Cards
Each card in this novelty deck, subtitled “Funny Card”, carries information about a prestigious or popular brand.

Mad Jack Miracle Pack
Mad Jack Miracle Pack by Chu’s Magic (Tobar) 1999.

Li River Souvenir
Li River Souvenir Playing Cards from China.

Hokkien Four Colour Cards
The characters on the cards are written one way for red and yellow, and another for green and white. They are: 將 士 象 車 馬 包 兵 for white and green; 帥 仕 相 俥 傌 炮 卒 for red and yellow.

3: 20th/21st Century Variants including some from China
I expect most collectors ignore cards made in China for export. It's true that many of them are close copies of American models, but there are also some interesting, even peculiar, redrawings of the standard English pattern.

Three Kingdoms
One of an extensive range of Chinese historical, art and culture playing cards, Three Kingdoms playing cards describes the historical story of the Three Kingdoms period, the political and military struggles between the contending rulers.

Mini-Poker
Mini-Poker miniature playing cards made in China.

Hong Kong
Playing Cards from Hong Kong. A large proportion of the world's souvenir and pin-up playing cards originate from Hong Kong.

Angry Birds UNO
Angry Birds UNO manufactured in China, 2003.

UNO
UNO Indonesian edition, licensed by Mattel for sale in Far Eastern countries, 2011

Plants vs. Zombies UNO Card Set
Plants vs. Zombies UNO card set Chinese edition, licensed by Mattel East Asia Limited, 2011.

Fortune Telling Cards
Fortune Telling Cards - wondrous scientific divination poker cards.

Mahjongg
Mahjongg

Double Elephant & Double Dragon
Double Elephant brand Four Colour cards

Playing Cards in Singapore
Playing Cards in Singapore, one of the Four Asian Tigers.

Chinese Playing Cards
The Chinese took their cards with them wherever they travelled and traded in the East, and we find Chinese cards in use not only in the mainland but also in Hong Kong, Malaysia, Indonesia, Taiwan, Singapore, North Borneo and Vietnam.

Toyo playing cards No.88 for Peru
Toyo playing cards No.88 manufactured in China for the “Estanco de Naipes del Perú”, 1950s.
