The mahjong sets trending in the U.S. are smaller and more colorful than traditional mahjong sold in China. American-style mahjong tiles are made from acrylic — a material that requires different production techniques and machinery. Jasmine Ling/NPR hide caption
Chinese manufacturers have not had it easy these past few years, with U.S. tariffs as well as the wars in Ukraine and Iran pushing up their costs and shrinking profits. But there is one sector that is thriving despite all of this, the manufacturers of this Chinese tile-game, called mahjong. It’s been trending in the U.S. and that has given a boost to one mahjong manufacturing hub. We go to eastern China to understand the global implications of this trend.Support public media with NPR+ and enjoy perks for over 25 podcasts like this one. This show’s perks include sponsor-free listening. Learn more at plus.npr.org .
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