The Chinese have the rather unique ability to create Citizens, Merchants, and Caravans instantly. This gives them a very unique feel, and also accelerates their economy. While other nations are waiting for these units to be constructed, the Chinese player already has them out and moving to get to work. Chinese players generally take advantage of their great early economy and more defensive Large Cities instead of making early attacks. However, overall their play style isn't cemented into economic booming like some nations and they're able to launch effective attacks starting in Medieval Age (particularly because of Fire Lances, their unique line of Light Infantry).

Chinese are a great nation for using the Border Flank strategy described in the Strategies section. Your newly created Cities immediately become Large Cities, which have a greater influence on national borders. Additionally, the ability to create a few extra Citizens to help quickly build Forts and military buildings is very helpful.


Science research at the Library is 20% cheaper


Why is it important?

This allows Chinese players to rack up some great savings in their other technology costs. It also allows them to get some great bonus resources from discovering ruins.

This ability also stacks well with the Papyrus rare resource, which reduces your Science costs even more!

How do I maximize this nation power?

• Early 2nd Science tech: Immediately get both Science I and Science II at the start of the game. This not only saves you some resources on the other early Library techs, but gives you scout a much larger line of sight, allowing him to collect more ruins which each give you 75 resources! It's not always the best way to go, but the Chinese have the option and it can occasionally pave the way for some really spectacular early starts - occasionally it is even possible to get the 3rd Commerce tech before going Classical Age (if you find enough ruins).
  
  
• Keep Science research advanced: As any nation, researching Science techs reduces the cost of all other technologies. Keeping a high level of scientific research as the Chinese is much cheaper than for other nations, meaning your Science research should almost always be a level or two above your other technologies.

Receive Herbal Lore, Medicine, and Pharmaceuticals upgrades for free.


Why is it important?

These technologies allow your units to heal faster, as well as be created faster. Since Chinese nations receive these upgrades instantly (when the appropriate prerequisite techs are researched, of course) you will be able to quickly take advantage of better healing and faster unit creation. These technologies certainly aren't the most expensive techs, but it's great to get them for free since they're so useful!

How do I maximize this nation power?

• Heal units: About the only way to actively utilize this nation power is to ensure you take advantage of the faster healing rate by garrisoning your damaged units.

Start with a Large City. New Cities you found become Large Cities.

Why is it important?

This makes your cities less vulnerable to early attacks and also slightly increases the city radius (the distance from the city where you can place economic buildings). Large Cities also have a larger capacity, meaning you'll be able to keep more citizens safe during an attack. Lastly, Large Cities have a more powerful border push than Small Cities.

How do I maximize this nation power?

• Build cities at the edge of borders: To make the most of your stronger border push, construct cities as close to your border as possible, so that your borders will extend over the largest amount of territory.
  
  
• Rush Defense: While it's inadvisable to go completely without defense, you can often get by with a little less military to guard your cities because it will take opposing nations a little longer to besiege and capture any of your cities.

Citizens, Caravans, and Merchants created instantly.

Why is it important?

The best nation power of the Chinese is instant Citizens/Caravans/Merchants creation. It allows you to ramp up your economy without any of the build time normally associated with those units. It allows Chinese players to instantly fill up new Woodcutters Camps, Mines, or Farms - as long as they have the Food to afford it. It can also be helpful while using an offensive border push strategy.

How do I maximize this nation power?

• Early economy: Ensure that you use this power while growing your early economy. You can establish a good economic advantage because of your ability to instantly produce citizens while other nations are waiting for them to be created. Throughout the game, you will constantly save a lot of time on Citizen build time.
  
  
• Gather points: Some players queue up units and then set the gather point. With the Chinese, be sure to set the gather point first, or your units may end up going somewhere you don't want them to go. This is particularly important while creating Merchants.
  
  
• Offensive Border Push strategy: Later in the game, you can opt to build a city near an opponent's flank. When that city is finished, immediately construct a bunch of citizens so that you can have 6-8 citizens fast-build a Castle to push the border even further - and perhaps create a new set of Barracks/Auto Plants/Factories in order to construct an army in that area.
  
  
• Keep Food incomes high: To make the most out of this power, you should try to always have a solid Food income to afford new Citizens.

» Strategy Index