KUALA LUMPUR, 29 May 2026 – The “Global Intelligence Culture Forum and English Edition Launch of The Essence of GuanDan”, organised by the Malaysia GuanDan Club, was recently held in Kuala Lumpur, bringing together over 130 mind sports enthusiasts, cultural researchers and business representatives from Malaysia, China, Singapore, Japan, South Korea and Canada.
The event served as a platform to explore the growing cultural, social and communication value of mind sports in today’s society. Malaysian Member of Parliament YB Howard Lee Chuan How, alongside representatives from the international mind sports and cultural community, were also present at the event.
GuanDan Emerges as a Modern Social Mind Sport
Originating in Huai’an, Jiangsu Province, China, GuanDan is a strategic card-based mind sport that combines teamwork, memory, and tactical thinking. In recent years, the game has rapidly gained popularity across China and is increasingly recognised as a social activity that encourages interpersonal interaction and cultural exchange.
The event also marked the official launch of the English edition of The Essence of GuanDan, or Guandan Xin Fa in Chinese, written by Yu Mingyang, an economics professor at the prestigious Shanghai Jiao Tong University. The book offers international readers a comprehensive introduction to GuanDan culture, gameplay strategies and the Eastern philosophies behind the game.
Through the English edition, the publication aims to help global audiences better understand Chinese intellectual culture while promoting GuanDan as a classic Eastern mind sport alongside internationally recognised games such as bridge and chess.
Cher Kok Sang, President of the Malaysia GuanDan Club, shared that GuanDan is more than just a game. “In an increasingly digital world, GuanDan encourages people to reconnect through face-to-face interaction. It creates opportunities for meaningful communication, teamwork and social bonding through gameplay,” he said.
He added that Malaysia’s multicultural landscape makes the country an ideal environment for intellectual and cultural exchange through mind sports, allowing people from different backgrounds to connect through shared interests.
Promoting Cultural Exchange Through Mind Sports
Speaking during the forum, Professor Yu Mingyang expressed hope that GuanDan could evolve beyond entertainment and become part of the broader international mind sports ecosystem. “Chinese culture carries rich wisdom and strong values of human connection. GuanDan offers an accessible and engaging way for international audiences to experience and better understand Chinese culture,” he said.
Professor Yu also noted that, unlike many forms of online entertainment today, GuanDan places strong emphasis on real-time communication, teamwork and physical social interaction, making it increasingly relevant in modern society.
Kuala Lumpur Becomes a Key Southeast Asian Stop
Published by Canada’s Royal Collins Publishing Group, the English edition of The Essence of GuanDan has previously been launched in Shanghai, Shenzhen, Singapore, Japan and South Korea. Kuala Lumpur now marks an important Southeast Asian stop in its international launch journey.
As part of the promotional campaign, a large-scale LED billboard was also displayed within Kuala Lumpur’s Golden Triangle commercial district, drawing attention from both locals and international visitors.
In addition, the English edition of The Essence of GuanDan has also been officially archived by internationally recognised academic institutions, including the Harvard University Library and Yale University Library. The organisers shared that they plan to continue promoting intellectual and cultural exchange initiatives through mind sports, with the aim of encouraging healthier social interaction, communication and cross-cultural engagement within the community.
