China's 'Throwing Eggs' Card Game Wins Fans And Official Censure

Tang Songyuan (background), runs a clubhouse where people gather to 'throw eggs', a card game that's seen its popularity skyrocket in recent years (Credit: AFP)

In the evenings in the Chinese city of Hangzhou, friends meet to "throw eggs" -- a card game winning fans despite official warnings that it is an addictive waste of time and a drain on productivity.

Played since the 1960s in the eastern provinces of Anhui and Jiangsu, Guandan's popularity has skyrocketed in recent years, becoming a national sensation.