Chinese Pokémon cards explained

Quick answer: genuine Chinese Pokémon cards are published by The Pokémon Company itself. Mainland China gets its own Simplified Chinese game with unique sets and products, while Taiwan and Hong Kong get Traditional Chinese cards. Counterfeiters also operate in China, which is where the "Chinese cards are fake" myth comes from, but official Chinese cards meet the same size and print standard as any other language.

Two scripts, two markets

Mainland releases, written in Simplified Chinese, often have their own set names and structure, and some formats, like slim booster boxes and gift sets, are sold nowhere else. Releases for Taiwan and Hong Kong, written in Traditional Chinese, mostly track the Japanese set list.

What makes them collectible

Three things: exclusive products and promos you cannot get in any other language, packs that often undercut Japanese and English prices, and a fast-growing market for graded Chinese cards. Kiratora stocks Simplified Chinese booster boxes, display sets and more.

Spotting a counterfeit

Real Chinese cards read cleanly in one language, have proper backs and solid card stock, and arrive in sealed retail packaging carrying official logos. Counterfeits usually give themselves away with jumbled languages, typos (often in English too), odd fonts and a thin, shiny feel. Run through our fake card checks if you are unsure.

Are Chinese Pokémon cards real?

The official Simplified and Traditional Chinese ones are. Bargain cards with garbled English text are not.

Are Chinese Pokémon cards worth anything?

Genuine ones can be. Expect lower prices than the Japanese or English version of the same card, except for China-only promos and graded chase cards, which can sell well.

Can you play with Chinese cards?

For fun, yes. Sanctioned events in each region use that region's language.