Age of Empires 4: Chinese Civilization Age of Empires 4 guide, walkthrough

On this Age of Empires 4 guide page you will find the most important information about the Chinese civilization.

Last update: 01 December 2021

This page of the Age of Empires 4 guide contains a description of the Chinese civilization. We have clearly compiled all the bonuses, unique units, and technologies. We also described the principles of the dynasty system.

The Chinese are the best building civilization in Age of Empires 4. They are able to erect many buildings in no time, thanks to special bonuses. They have a unique Imperial Official unit that can provide a steady, passive source of income for your settlement, or focus on overseeing a single building to improve its efficiency.

Chinese civilization is the only one with the dynasty system. In addition to several unique features, the Chinese have many different paths to success, which also makes their civilization very interesting and one of the most difficult in the game.

• Bonuses
• Dynasties
• Unique units
• Landmarks
• Unique technologies
• Summary

Bonuses

1. The Town Center can shoot from a cannon;
2. Villagers construct defensive buildings 50% faster, all other buildings 100% faster;
3. Economic buildings generate taxes, for every resource delivered (regardless of how many resources you provide);
4. Military buildings generate taxes with the production of each unit and technology researched;
5. An Imperial Official can collect a maximum of 20 taxes per building (this number increases to 40 with proper upgrades). Taxes can be collected again after 30 seconds;
6. Dynasties, a unique feature of Chinese civilization, allow you to build both Landmarks of an era, providing access to special bonuses;
7. Chemistry technologies are granted for free when you enter the 4th era;
8. The docks are running 20% faster.

Dynasties

Dynasties are a unique feature of Chinese civilization. Villagers can build both Landmarks from the same era. This moves the Chinese into a new dynasty with unique bonuses, buildings and units.

1. Tang Dynasty - awards bonuses to the amount of territory explored by Scouts;
2. Song Dynasty - unlocks the Village building and the Zhuge Nu unit. It also reduces the production time of Villagers;
3. Yuan Dynasty - unlocks the Granary building and the Fire Lancer unit. Increases the movement speed of all units;
4. Ming Dynasty - unlocks the Pagoda building and the Grenadier unit. All military units get a health bonus.

Unique units

1. Imperial Official - collects taxes from buildings and improves their efficiency. Resources delivered to the building supervised by the official are increased by 20%. Supervised production buildings become 200% faster. Town Center, Docks, Markets, and Technology buildings cannot be supervised;
2. Zhuge Nu - a military unit equipped with a crossbow, perfect for fighting light enemy groups;
3. Palace Guard - an infantry unit with light armor, similar to Man-at-Arms;

1. Nest of Bees - a siege unit, used to fight groups of enemies;
2. Fire Lancer - a unit produced in the Stable. Can perform a charge that deals area damage (does not apply to ranged units) and increases torch damage;
3. Grenadier - a ranged unit equipped with grenades that deal area damage.

Landmarks

2nd era:

1. Imperial Academy - Economy Building. Buildings in the range generate 100% more taxes;
2. Barbican of the Sun - a defensive building, equipped with a long-range hand cannon. Each unit in the garrison receives a firing position. Offers enhanced vision when hiding in the woods.

3rd era:

1. Astronomical Clocktower - military building, siege units trained in it have 50% more stamina points;
2. Imperial Palace - an economic building with a very large view radius and an ability that reveals the locations of all enemy Villagers for 10 seconds.

4th era:

1. Great Wall Gatehouse - a defensive building that must be adjacent to a stone wall. Increases the strength of nearby walls and gates by 100%. Units on the wall affected by this building deal 50% more damage;
2. Spirit Way - A military building that allows all buildings to produce Dynasty units. Buildings under the influence of this Landmark produce Dynasty Units 30% cheaper.

Unique technologies

2nd era:

1. Imperial Examination (Imperial Academy) - increases the maximum amount of gold that Imperial Officials units can carry.

3rd era:

1. Extra Materials (Keep) - stone towers and outposts repair nearby damaged walls (20 health points every second);
2. Extra Hammocks (Dock) - Junks gunships receive an extra crew, allowing them to fire two extra shots with each salvo.

4th era:

1. Battle Hardened (Barracks) - adds 30 life points to Palace Guards units;
2. Reusable Barrels (Siege Workshop) - reduces the cost of a Nest of Bees unit by 25%;
3. Pyrotechnics (Siege Workshop) - increases the range of units with gunpowder by 20%;
4. Ancient Techniques (University) - increases the amount of raw materials collected by 5% with each Dynastic promotion;
5. Reload Drills (Siege Workshop) - reduces the reload time for Bombards by 33%.

Summary

The Chinese operate differently than other civilizations because they go through eras and dynasties. Chinese Civilization is not limited in terms of what Landmark you choose when moving to the next era. Building both Landmarks will move them to the next dynasty, which will give them additional bonuses and unlock a new unit and building. When moving from one dynasty to the next, the Chinese unfortunately lose the bonus granted from the previous one.

The ability to erect all Landmarks and the accelerated build time give the Chinese a remarkable advantage over the enemy. This huge number of objects, however, will take its toll on your resources. Efficient construction is the key to the success of Chinese civilization. When the Ming Dynasty is reached, the Pagoda building will be unlocked. By placing a Relic in this building you will receive 50 of each resource every 30 seconds, you will unlock Grenadiers and you will gain a health bonus for all your units.

The Chinese have powerful warriors who excel in battle. Their unique units have gunpowder, which makes them extremely powerful during a siege. The way the Chinese potential is unlocked, makes this civilization very difficult to fully exploit and it requires careful timing.