- BGG rank
- BGG #3,146
- BGG rating
- 7.9
1880: China
2010
Rules assistance for 1880: China
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 3–7 players
- 300 min
- 13+
- Complexity 4.2/5
For 3 players
Rules assistant for 1880: China
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
1880: China is a board game released in 2010 for 3–7 players, 300 minutes per game, and ages 13 and up. It was designed by Leonhard "Lonny" Orgler and Helmut Ohley and its main mechanics are Auction / Bidding, Tile Placement, and Network and Route Building.
About the game
In 1880: China, based on 1829 by Francis Tresham, the players become railway barons in the far east, experiencing China's railway history in a game that was designed to represent related historical events as correctly as possible within its own game mechanisms. Being a classic 18xx game, the players compete to become the richest. In order to gain money, they buy and sell shares of China's historical railway companies, build and expand their railway network, and let trains travel on the networks. Shares of successful companies are worth more, and owning them will increase the chance to win the game. In the end, the player with the highest wealth combined from cash and shares wins. 1880: China innovates on the 18xx model as follows: Turn order for companies doesn't change with the evolving stock prices; it is set along with the par price when a player opens a company. The game includes a player-manipulated ratio of stock rounds and operation rounds. For example, a new stock round occurs when the last of a type of train is bought.
Designers
Publishers
- Lookout Games
- Double-O Games
Questions and answers
1880: China supports 3–7 players according to the catalogue. This range comes from the publisher’s listed player count, so the game can be set up for any group size within it. Some setups, rules and scoring details may still vary by player count, so check your edition’s rulebook for the exact configuration.
The listed playing time for 1880: China is 300 minutes. This is the publisher’s estimate for a full game. The actual duration depends on the group, the player count and familiarity with the rules: first sessions usually run longer, while experienced groups often finish faster. Setup and teaching time are not included in this estimate.
The catalogue lists 1880: China for ages 13 and up. This is the publisher’s recommendation and reflects reading demands, rule complexity and small components rather than theme alone. Younger players can often join with help from an adult, so check the age guidance on your edition and consider your group’s experience with board games.
1880: China has a complexity rating of 4.2 out of 5 from BoardGameGeek players, which makes it a heavy game. The rating reflects how much rules knowledge, planning and decision-making a typical game demands. Expect a longer first teach for heavier games, and use a preparation guide before game night.
1880: China belongs to these categories: Economic and Trains. Its main mechanics are Auction / Bidding, Tile Placement, and Network and Route Building. Categories describe the theme and setting of a game, while mechanics describe what players actually do on their turns. Each mechanic links to a catalogue hub with similar games, which helps when you want something comparable.
The credited designers of 1880: China are: Leonhard "Lonny" Orgler and Helmut Ohley. These credits come from the published game data and name the people responsible for the game’s design, not its illustrators or publishers. Designer pages on MeepleRules collect other titles by the same designers, which helps when you enjoy a game and want to find similar ones.
The catalogue lists 1880: China as a base game. It can be played on its own with the components in the box and does not require any other title. Expansions, if any exist, add new content or rules on top of it and are listed separately in the catalogue with a link back to this base game.