What should I expect watching a xiangqi tournament in person for the first time?
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
Expect a quiet room with boards arranged in rows, players and an arbiter present but little conversation, and possibly a demonstration board showing moves from a top game for spectators further back. The atmosphere is closer to a chess tournament hall than to the noisy energy of park play.
What is different from watching online
You see the players' body language, thinking time and clock pressure directly, none of which comes through the same way on a screen. You will also see the arbiter working: walking the floor, handling disputes quietly, and enforcing silence near active boards.
Spectator etiquette to know in advance
Stay well back from boards in progress, keep phones silent, and never comment on a position within earshot of the players; see kibitzing etiquette for why this matters more than it might seem. Most events welcome spectators warmly as long as this basic quiet is respected.
Related questions
Can I bring a friend who has never seen xiangqi before?
Yes, most events are open to the public, though explain the silence expectation to them beforehand.
Are photos allowed?
Often yes between rounds or from a distance during play, but check with the organiser first, since flash and close-up photography during a round can be distracting.
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