From the publisher’s rulebook
Who goes first in Chinatown?
Z-Man Games English rules, 2014

The player who most recently visited a Chinatown takes the First Player card.
Rule details
The rulebook gives New York, Montréal and Paris as examples of qualifying Chinatowns.
The First Player card holder deals the Building cards at the start of each round.
Source & edition
- Chinatown: Z-Man Games English rulesZ-Man Games · Set-up; Playing the Game, Deal Building Cards · Checked 2026-09-24Printed page references: 3, 4
Image: © F2Z Entertainment Inc.; artwork by Mathieu Leyssenne · Z-Man Games
If your rules call for a random choice, use the player picker.
If there’s a tie
The rulebook doesn’t say. If you need a tie-break, pick a player at random.
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