China’s officials are urging them to stop” throwing eggs,” according to recent back-to-back comments that were published in a state-backed newspaper. They may be concerned about the effects of the changes on employment and potential for fraud.
Far from really throwing egg, the name refers to a famous Chinese poker-like card game called “guandan” which has that precise significance in Chinese.  ,
With 140 million players spread across the country, including businesspeople, youth, and yet major school children, the tactical yet luck-based game has recently taken over the nation.
Guandan has also proved a strike among China’s Communist Party leaders, according to press reports.
The Beijing Youth Daily newspaper published three consecutive commentary articles from Monday ( Aug 5 ) through Wednesday, warning against addiction and defending the card game as another manifestation of “lying-flat culture,” in a sign that authorities are taking notice and are concerned.  ,
” WORTHY OF ATTENTION AND VIGILANCE”
In the first of three papers published on its Twitter account, Beijing Youth Daily noted guandan’s quick rise in popularity, and how it has been described as a “healthy and academic form of entertainment”.
Additionally, it was noted that some commentators claimed that the sport is both a” cultural device” for corporate officers and a “required course” for community functionaries.
” However, as ( guandan ) becomes a new obsession for some public officials … individual businessmen… and young people, the guandan addiction has become a social phenomenon worthy of attention and vigilance”, the article stated.
The commentary described how some party members and cadres have become “intoxicated” to the game and how guandan addiction has” corroded” cadres ‘ work ethics.  ,
According to the article, Guandan has also become a social barrier for officials because those who ca n’t play are not welcome at the table, suggesting that non-players lose out on establishing closer networks.
Known as “guanxi” in Chinese, creating relationships is seen as important in China for opening windows in company and other interactions.
In yet another remark on Tuesday, the state-backed paper retorted its criticism. It criticised the pattern of “lying-flat” or “tangping”, claiming that with the reputation of guandan in the past two times,” some people have taken advantage of the situation to ‘ lay even deceive'”.  ,
” When the tangping mentality meets guandan culture, leisure and entertainment becomes the most important thing ( in people’s minds )”, the commentary stated.