Why start with an elephant?

The elephant controls the centre diagonally and cannot cross the river, so it creates a stable base from which Red develops the rest of the army.

Flying Elephant (Fei Xiang Ju) vs Central Cannon

Red strengthens the centre with an elephant before anything else. A famously solid, defensive opening associated with grandmaster Hu Ronghua.

Black may grab the centre with 炮8平5 or 炮2平5.

Flying Elephant builds a durable fortress and avoids early tactics. It suits players who excel in positional, maneuvering games and endgames.