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In fact Xiang Qi is too drawish. A Chinese professional player can easily
force a draw playing Red (White). A few years ago The Chinese Xiang Qi
Assosiation (I don't know what exactly the name is in English, just that
kind of organization) even made a controversial rule that a draw equals to
a win of Black. Xiang Qi has too many defending pieces and too much
restrictions on offencing pieces, that's why too many draws.
When I was a child, my grandpa told me that the purpose of Xiang Qi is to
checkmate the opponent not maintain valued pieces. Sacrifices are very
common in Xiang Qi for two reasons:
a)Though the board is larger, it's hard to develop valued pieces in Xiang
Qi. So sacrifices happen to exchange for partial advantages on one side
(left or right) of the board.
b)Players of Xiang Qi like to achieve winning of continuos mates (as VCFs
in Renju). Sacrifices happen when a player can see clearly a win after many
continuos mates.