SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — When Ryan Lee first played Majong two years ago, he got hooked. He delves into a set of classic Chinese tile games from his parents’ house and takes him to San Francisco, where he began hosting Majong’s Night in his apartment.
The rally was extremely popular, and the 25-year-old Chinese-American began holding pop-up majong parties at restaurants, bars and nightclubs around San Francisco.
MajongInvented in 19th century China, China is gaining popularity among a new generation of players trying to get off their phones and socialize in the real world.
Lee’s Youth Luck Leisure (YLL) Mahjong Club is currently hosting a bimonthly party with up to 30 tables and 200 guests. They attract a diverse young crowd drawn to the festive atmosphere, live DJs, custom cocktails and the opportunity to meet new friends. The instructor is on hand to teach beginners.
“Many people are really intrigued, even though they don’t really know how to play,” Lee said. “There’s a cultural element they’re trying to connect with. It’s like cultural nostalgia.”
EventBrite reports a 179% increase in US Majong events on its platform from 2023 to 2024.
Majong events have increased by 179% in the US from 2023 to 2024, according to the popular ticketing app Eventbrite. According to the event platform, Gen Z also shows growing interest in other “granicol” activities, such as baking workshops and needle work circles, which occur offline.
In Majong, four players draw and discard tiles in different suits, numbers and kanji. The object is to build four sets of victory hands, with three pairs and one pair.
“It’s really a tactile game, it’s really a social game. It really makes a community a reality among people,” said Nicole Wong, writer and audio producer at Auckland. “It’s a great way to unplug not just your phone.”
Wong learned how to play when he visited his Chinese grandparents in New Zealand in 2009. A few years ago, she found her parents’ Majong tables and game sets and began hosting Majong’s Night with her friends.
In 2019, she launched the Mahjong Project, an educational guide and oral history project inspired by her love for family games. This led her to publish “Majong: House Rules from the Whole Asian Diaspora.”
“I think the Asian American community is interested in connecting to your heritage and your culture in ways that weren’t when I was growing up,” Wong said.
The Yll Mahjong Club has hosted nearly 20 events in San Francisco since its launch last year. Lee said it was an opportunity to introduce people to the game and bring business to local restaurants, bars and food vendors. Lee’s sister has begun holding similar events in Los Angeles. There are plans to expand to other US cities.
“Demand is on the rise,” says Lee, a business school management consultant. “Learning how to play Majong is not just an interest, you can find a third space or another community.”
Joyce Yam, sponsorship manager for Yll Mahjong Club, helps manage events in San Francisco.
“We welcome people who have no experience with Majong at all, and we have a TA that teaches people how to play the game.
Ethan Vuong, a native of Florida who lives in San Francisco, began hanging out with friends a few years ago. He saw it as a way to connect with Chinese heritage and make new friends. He is a regular at the Bubba House and Ilmajon Club events in Auckland and volunteers to teach newcomers.
“It’s not just a skill or mechanic-based game, it’s an expression of your personality,” Von said. “I have this goal to defeat my grandma one day, so I’m just playing.”
