How much does a xiangqi set cost?
These answers restate the rules implemented by our open-source engine, which follows the WXF laws for movement, checkmate and both repetition rulings: a side that forces a repetition by perpetual check or perpetual chase loses rather than drawing. The chase half has not been validated against the official casebook. Where an answer refers to a specific position, that position lives on the linked reference page, where the build verifies it before publishing.
Direct answer
A good playing set is cheap. A paper or vinyl roll-up board with plastic discs costs very little and plays exactly as well as anything expensive. Wooden folding boards and hardwood pieces cost considerably more and improve the experience without improving the game.
Spend on legibility, not material
The one thing worth paying for is engraved and colour-filled characters rather than surface printing, which rubs off. After that, check the pieces fit the grid — roughly a 5 cm grid for 4.5 cm pieces — so discs on adjacent points do not touch.
What you do not need
Weighted pieces, presentation boxes, exotic woods. None of it affects play. A cheap set with clear engraving is a better playing set than an expensive one with shallow gold leaf.
Related questions
What size should the pieces be?
Club sets are commonly 4.5–5 cm across. Travel sets go smaller and are harder to read.
Are western-symbol sets available?
Yes, though uncommon in shops. Every digital board offers them.
.