---
title: "Which Pieces Can Cross the River in Xiangqi? · Xiangqi Master"
description: "Only the elephant is stopped by the river. Soldiers change behaviour on crossing; chariots, horses and cannons ignore it entirely."
url: https://xiangqimaster.com/blog/does-the-river-block-any-piece
updated: 2026-09-22
source: Xiangqi Master (https://xiangqimaster.com)
license: CC BY 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)
---

# Which pieces does the river stop in xiangqi?

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
>
> Only **one piece is stopped**: the elephant, which may never cross. The **soldier changes behaviour** on crossing — it gains sideways movement. Chariots, horses and cannons ignore the river completely, and generals and advisors never get near it because the palace is on their own side.

## Piece by piece

- **Chariot, horse, cannon** — cross freely, no change.
- **Soldier** — crosses freely; afterwards may also move sideways, never backwards.
- **Elephant** — may never cross, under any circumstances.
- **General, advisor** — confined to the palace, so the question never arises.

## What the river is not

It is not a rank you can stand on, and it does not block lines. A chariot or cannon's line runs straight across it, and a cannon's screen can sit on either side. It is simply the gap between the 5th and 6th ranks.

## Related questions

Can a cannon shoot across the river?

Yes. The river has no effect on lines of attack at all.

Why can elephants not cross?

It is simply the rule, and it is what defines the elephant as a purely defensive piece. Janggi's equivalent piece is not restricted the same way.

## Related xiangqi resources

Board setup

The board, the river, the palace, and where the 32 pieces go

How the elephant moves

Two points diagonally, never crosses the river

How the soldier moves

Forward only, until it crosses the river

## Try it on a real board

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