Sixteen tiles
The defining feature of Taiwanese mahjong is the larger hand: players hold sixteen tiles and win with seventeen, arranged as five sets and a pair. The bigger hand makes complete hands more frequent and games faster, and it changes strategy and scoring considerably.
Scoring uses tai (similar to faan), with a fixed base payment plus a set amount per tai. Common sources of tai include self-draw, concealed hands, dealer status, flowers and honour sets.
A national pastime
Mahjong is woven into Taiwanese social life, especially during the Lunar New Year, when families gather to play late into the night. Mahjong also appears regularly in Taiwanese television, films and variety shows, including reality competitions with trophy prizes.
Healthy mahjong
Taiwan has seen the growth of "healthy mahjong" associations that promote mahjong without gambling as a social and mental activity for older people. Community halls offer free or low-cost tables where retirees meet daily.
Online pioneers
Taiwanese companies were among the early developers of Chinese-language online mahjong, launched with press events and celebrity promotions in the 2000s. Online sixteen-tile games remain extremely popular.
