A1 Chinese Stories
Build confidence with beginner Chinese stories using everyday vocabulary, clear plots, and helpful key words.
钟表店橱窗里倒着走的表
A curious girl discovers a watch in a shop window that runs backward and learns the touching reason behind it.
早茶店里排队的暗号
A grandmother teaches her granddaughter a secret code to get a table faster at a crowded morning tea restaurant.
兰州拉面师傅手腕那道弯
An old noodle master teaches his apprentice the secret to making perfect noodles through a physical lesson about his own wrist.
竹林深处迷路的那只羊
A young girl named Xiaoyu searches for her missing sheep in a misty bamboo forest and encounters a friendly giant panda along the way.
自动售货机吞硬币后弹出的字条
A heartwarming story about a daily interaction between a girl and a vending machine repairman through handwritten notes.
乌镇早班船为何少停一座桥
A short story about Xiaolin learning why an early boat skips one bridge to keep passengers safe.
北京胡同公用电话旁的三枚硬币
On a night in a Beijing hutong, Lin Yu uses a coin by a public phone to call her father and helps a little boy stay in touch with his sister.
替故宫屋顶捉虫的鸟
This story explains how Beijing swifts help protect the old roofs of the Forbidden City by catching insects.
青海转湖路上借来的那匹马
Lin An borrows a black horse by Qinghai Lake and discovers that the horse can choose a safe path during a storm.
越剧后台没扣好的那颗盘扣
A young Yue opera actress finds comfort in a special jade pendant hidden inside her costume before her performance.
外婆藏起来的辣椒油配方
A story about a girl who learns the true secret behind her grandmother's famous chili oil recipe.
武术比赛前折断的那杆枪
A young martial arts student learns a valuable lesson when his spear breaks right before a big competition.
楼道灯为什么总在十点熄灭
A girl named Meimei wonders why the hallway light turns off at 10 PM and discovers a kind old man's secret.
两位门神子时换岗的规矩
A young boy learns the importance of following tradition when he hears his family's protective door gods changing shifts.
藏历新年抢头水的那口井
A young girl named Zhuoma learns the value of sharing good fortune during the Tibetan New Year.
端午躲午的那道朱砂符
A young boy named Ah Fu learns about the tradition of using cinnabar marks to stay safe during the Dragon Boat Festival.
谁拿走了钟楼的钥匙
A helpful girl named Xiaoyu investigates the mystery of a missing clock tower key.
古镇石板路上最后的补鞋匠
A story about a traditional cobbler in an ancient town who finds hope in his craft after a young girl brings him her grandmother's shoes to repair.
戏台后台丢的那双绣鞋
A young performer named Xiaoyu loses her cherished embroidered shoes right before her big show.
紫禁城匠人偷藏的那块金砖
A story about a skilled craftsman in the Forbidden City who makes a difficult choice to save a unique, slightly imperfect piece of work.
京剧脸谱画错的那一笔
A student makeup artist worries about a mistake she makes while painting a Peking Opera mask before a big performance.
没有寄出的道歉信
A story about a girl who finally delivers an apology letter to her long-lost friend after three years.
长白山天池边留下的那顶帐篷
A story about a girl named Xiaomei who finds an unattended tent while visiting the beautiful Heaven Lake at Changbai Mountain.
踢毽子比赛的最后一脚
Two friends compete in a shuttlecock kicking match and learn the value of sportsmanship.
怒江溜索上忘记系紧的那根绳
A young girl named A-yi learns that paying attention to small details is crucial when she discovers a loose rope on a dangerous zipline.
老字号面馆不外传的那勺猪油
A touching story about a grandmother passing down the secret recipe for her special lard to her granddaughter.
黄山挑夫扁担上的那道印记
A story about a porter on Mount Huangshan and the meaningful mark on his carrying pole.
长城砖上刻的名字
A story about a man named Lao Wang who made bricks for the Great Wall and why names were carved onto them.
借出去没还的那本日记
A story about a girl named Xiao Mei who lends her diary to her friend Li Li and worries about her secret.
河神只收单数的贡品
A story about a girl named Xiaomei who learns the importance of following the rules of the river god to help her sick father.
妈祖灯船不能回头的规矩
A young boy follows a special lamp boat's rule and helps lost fishing boats find their way home.
西南联大教室里漏雨的那把伞
A student at Southwest Associated University uses an old umbrella to protect his notebook while continuing to study in a leaky classroom.
扬州炒饭里不能少的那颗青豆
A young cook learns why one small green pea is essential to his grandfather’s fried rice.
地铁失物招领处堆满的雨伞
A kind worker at the subway's lost and found office helps a young girl retrieve a special, sentimental umbrella.
剪错窗花后才发现的喜字
A girl worries after cutting the last piece of red paper incorrectly, but discovers that she has made a joyful character for her sister's wedding.
消失在早餐摊的第三只饭盒
Lin Yu follows a trail of red water drops to find a missing lunchbox at a breakfast stall.
郑和船队丢失的那份航海图
A story about a young sailor named Lin Ming who is responsible for protecting a nautical chart during Zheng He's grand voyage.
年兽最怕的不是红色
A brave girl discovers that the terrifying 年兽 is afraid of seeing itself in a mirror.
视频通话里没说出口的那句话
Two friends who had a falling out reconcile during a video call.
赛龙舟鼓手漏敲的第三声鼓
During a dragon boat race, a new drummer misses a beat, but the team works together to win.
冰场停电后的最后一支舞
During a power outage at the ice rink, Lin Xue completes her final dance with help from her partner, opponent, coach, and audience.