- BGG rank
- BGG #12,110
- BGG rating
- 6.3
Elephant Rally
- 3–6 players
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China Moon
1996
Rules assistance for China Moon
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 2–5 players
- 30 min
- 8+
- Complexity 1.6/5
For 2 players
Rules assistant for China Moon
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
China Moon is a board game released in 1996 for 2–5 players, 30 minutes per game, and ages 8 and up. It was designed by Bruno Faidutti and its main mechanics are Set Collection and Point to Point Movement.
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About the game
Once upon a time, in far-off China, there lived a mandarin duck. This duck was very sad because he wanted to give his sweetheart a special gift, but didn't know what would please her. One night, when the moon was full, the frogs that shared his pond decided to help him by gathering a beautiful bouquet of water lily blossoms (the rare and beautiful lotus flowers) for him to give his beloved. The frogs divided into teams of 3, and hopped frantically from lily pad to lily pad, each team trying to gather the most beautiful lotus blossom bouquet. Relive this loony leap-frog race and lead your team to victory by aiding your opponents' frogs - who can't help but do the same for you. Well, let's hope so, anyway! Originally published 1996 as Flower of the Lotus at The Game Cabinet website. At Essen 2003 published under the titles China Moon and Lotusblume by Eurogames / Descartes Deutschland. Republished in 2008 in Klutz's book of the The 15 Greatest Board Games in the World.
Designers
Publishers
- (Web published)
- Eurogames
Questions and answers
China Moon supports 2–5 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 China Moon is 30 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 China Moon for ages 8 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.
China Moon has a complexity rating of 1.6 out of 5 from BoardGameGeek players, which makes it a light 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.
China Moon belongs to these categories: Animals, Children's Game, and Abstract Strategy. Its main mechanics are Set Collection and Point to Point Movement. 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 China Moon are: Bruno Faidutti. 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 China Moon 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.