Strange Tales from a Chinese Studio: HUPO Red Playing Cards

Where Chinese folklore, supernatural tales and playing card artistry collide.

Inspired by Pu Songling’s legendary Strange Tales from a Chinese Studio, the HUPO Red Playing Cards transform a world of spirits, scholars, ghosts and mysterious beings into an intricately illustrated deck.

The custom court cards feature detailed two-way character illustrations, with supernatural figures drawn from the strange and enchanting world of Pu Songling’s stories. But the artwork doesn’t stop with the courts — the number cards feature full-body character illustrations that become part of something much larger.

Place the number cards together in sequence and the individual illustrations connect to create a remarkable mosaic-style otherworldly garden, turning the deck into a visual puzzle as well as a set of playing cards. This connecting artwork is one of the standout features of the design. 

The borderless card backs are equally unusual. Inspired by traditional Chinese window latticework and the form of a wheel, the segmented design creates a whirling gateway effect when the cards are riffled, flipped or displayed in a fan. 

With its rich HUPO red and gold-inspired colour palette, custom artwork and unusual animated back design, this is a deck made to be explored card by card.

Features

• HUPO Red Standard Edition
• Inspired by Pu Songling’s Strange Tales from a Chinese Studio
• Fully custom illustrated playing cards
• Detailed two-way custom court cards
• Connecting number-card artwork forms a larger mosaic
• Borderless animated Whirling Gateway back design
• Red and gold/amber-inspired HUPO colour scheme
• Poker-size playing cards
• Elite 300G card stock
• Linen finish
• Printed by Room One Cards
• Designed by Bloom Playing Cards
• Artwork by M. Candice and P. Torres
• Released in 2025