Qianhong is top recommended free Chinese chess and a remarkably user-friendly program for anyone new to the game. Same as other programs selected in this page, it helpfully provides an English user interface. You can opt for alternative board designs (in scalable sizes to suit your screen) and select Western-style chessmen. A complete Help manual is included.

To familiarize yourself with the game, you may find it useful to watch the computer play itself. When you decide to join in, Qianhong can also give you hints for your next move. Opening-book and end-game resources are also available.

Qianhong installs with a relatively weak built-in engine, which you may find fun to play against if you’re just starting out. However, you can also install a selection of stronger third-party engines, provided as plug-ins.

A particularly versatile (and popular) one is ElephantEye, and this can be set to six levels of strength ranging from ‘Beginner’ to ‘Overwhelming’. If you get to beat ElephantEye at the fifth level, you’ll have reached Grand Master level.

http://www.jcraner.com/qianhong/index.html

XieXie Freeware, a free version of XieXie Master, comes with rich features and a built-in engine strong enough for most players. You can choose a suitable level ranging from beginner to advanced, or select to play a handicapped or time limited game.

It has a nice user interface with three different board sizes, various sets of chessmen, and different board styles and colors. Other useful features include hints on best next move, undo/redo moves, load and save games, build own opening books, etc.

More advanced features, such as additional configuration of the chess engine, are only available in the paid version, but the free version is good enough for most average players.

http://www.cc-xiexie.com/home.php

HiddenLynx is a good choice for practicing or playing Chinese Chess. The simple user interface highlights available moves when you place the mouse cursor over a piece—great for learning the game. And you can undo and redo your moves.

The program comes with a built-in engine with 5 levels of strength. It saves games automatically, so you can adjourn and return to the board whenever you want.

Unlike Qianhong, HiddenLynx does not let you install third-party engines or edit opening books. But the program is portable. After downloading, just unzip to any folder you choose, click the executable, and start a game.

http://mayoneez.1g.fi/hiddenlynx/

Another free program Milo's Chinese Chess is worth a try for practicing and playing the game as well. The 3D vivid interface together with animated legal moves enriches your game experience with the program.

It has a built-in engine with 6 levels of strength. You can undo/redo moves, open and save games, play full-screen or windowed.

Other display features include setting board texture, mirror effect and slide pieces, etc.

http://www.geocities.com/yccheok/software/miloches.zip

Thanks for the links, very helpful.

Note that hiddenlynx at the easiest level is extremely difficult to beat.
If you're a beginner use Qianghong in priority with the Qianghong engine level1 to 3.

Level1 is for extreme beginners. Engine will blunder almost every turn.
Level2 is for beginners. Engine will play a beginner game with less blunders.
Level3 is for advanced beginners. No blunder. Will miss some mates.

When you can beat comfortably level3, you can use other engines, not before.

MiloChess working link is:
http://www.chess-street.de/download/miloches.zip

thanks sahist4, downloaded Qianhong with elephant eye add on. played on level 2 Expert, got my butt kicked but it's much needed practise. and thanks to the programmer's who made it available, cheer's.

Note that WinBoard also supports Xiangqi (see the thread about it on this forum). There are some 30 free XQ engines available for it using UCCI protocol, some much stronger than Elephant Eye (e.g. Kou 0.1.3, BugCChess). It also supports UCI engines, such as the commercial Cyclone and ggChess. And of course the engines using its own native protocol.

Bernhard C. Maerz is currently working on a Xiangqi program, BCMXiangqi, similar to BCMShogi.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PfQlPZKxc3c

BCMXiangqi is now available for download.

http://home.arcor.de/Bernhard.Maerz/BCMXiangqi/