Do most xiangqi apps and websites show WXF notation, Chinese characters, or both, and can players usually switch?
These answers restate the rules implemented by our open-source engine, which follows the WXF laws and is regression-tested against the official 110-diagram repetition casebook. Where an answer refers to a specific position, that position lives on the linked reference page, where the build verifies it against the engine before publishing.
Direct answer
It depends on the platform, but most give you a choice. Software aimed primarily at a Chinese-reading audience tends to default to Chinese characters on the pieces and in the move log, while software aimed at an international audience often defaults to Roman-letter WXF notation or simple visual piece icons instead. Most well-built modern platforms let a player switch this in a settings menu, since the underlying game and its rules are identical either way.
Why the choice barely matters for actually playing
Both notations describe the exact same moves on the exact same board; neither is more "correct" than the other, they are simply two different written representations of identical information. A player who has never seen a Chinese character in their life can play a full game using only WXF or visual piece icons and lose nothing in the process.
Where the choice does matter
It matters most when trying to follow along with outside material, a commentary video, a printed book, or a database of historical games, since matching the platform's notation to whatever source you are studying from saves a lot of unnecessary mental translation.
Related questions
Can I learn to play well without ever learning Chinese characters?
Yes, completely. Plenty of strong international players never learn to read the characters and rely entirely on piece shapes or WXF notation.
Do move logs usually show algebraic-style coordinates instead of either system?
Some do, particularly software aimed at players coming from chess, though WXF-style notation remains the more common standard within the xiangqi community itself.
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