Graded Chinese Readers
Chinese reading practice organized by CEFR level, from first sentences to richer intermediate stories.
A0 Chinese Stories
爷爷的口哨只吹一半
A short story about a grandfather who remembers a special song with the help of his grandson.
傣族泼水节第一瓢该泼给谁
A story about a girl participating in the traditional Dai Water Splashing Festival.
共用一把伞的两个人
A short story about a woman who meets a new friend while waiting in the rain.
迟到五分钟引发的误会
A short story about a small misunderstanding at a coffee shop between two friends.
菜市场那杆总缺一克的秤
A little girl helps a vegetable seller discover a secret hidden under her scale.
詹天佑图纸上那道人字弯
An engineer named Zhan Tianyou finds a clever way to build a railway through a tall mountain.
奶奶灶台上那罐陈醋
Grandma's favorite jar of vinegar is missing from the kitchen, and her granddaughter helps her find it.
岳飞背上刺的那四个字
A story about a brave man named Yue Fei and the meaning of the words his mother tattooed on his back.
月亮上兔子捣药的规矩
A hardworking rabbit makes medicine on the moon to keep it shining bright.
转学生课桌里那架纸飞机
A new student named Xiao Mei finds a special paper plane on her desk that leads to a new friendship.
唐朝公主种下的那棵石榴树
A princess in the Tang Dynasty plants a pomegranate tree and cares for it as it grows over time.
石狮子眼睛红了的那天
A little girl discovers a warning from a stone lion that saves her village from a flood.
漓江竹筏上掉进水里的草帽
A young girl and her father enjoy a ride on a bamboo raft until an unexpected gust of wind creates a small problem.
云雾中的独木桥
A brave girl helps a scared puppy cross a dangerous bridge in the mountains.
跳绳比赛数错的那一下
A story about a skipping rope competition where the teacher makes a mistake while counting.
皇帝吃剩的那道菜
An emperor shares his leftover food with a hungry boy, leading to a happy day for everyone.
皮影戏艺人手里那盏马灯
An elderly shadow puppet artist finds a way to keep his traditional performance alive with the help of a friend.
值日表上被划掉的那个名字
A story about a student who discovers her name has been crossed off the duty roster and finds out why.
夜市摊主记住的老顾客
A friendly noodle stall owner recognizes his regular customer and remembers her specific taste preferences.
拔河比赛突然松开的那双手
A story about a fun and friendly tug-of-war match between the Red Team and the Blue Team.
腊八节那勺分给邻居的粥
A young boy shares a warm bowl of traditional Laba porridge with his neighbor on a cold winter day.
电梯里贴的那张寻物启事
A kind neighbor finds a missing cat after seeing a notice in the elevator.
谁在信箱里放了半张地图
A girl named Xiaomei finds half a mystery map in her mailbox and goes on an adventure to find the other half.
篮球场上让出的那一分钟
A story about two friends playing a basketball game and the power of team spirit.
A1 Chinese Stories
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.
A2 Chinese Stories
林则徐箱底那封没有送出的信
This story follows Lin Zexu as he faces fear and separation while staying true to what he believes is right.
敦煌藏经洞封门前的最后一卷
This story imagines the last scroll placed in the Dunhuang Library Cave before its entrance was sealed.
全运会接力棒上的一道裂纹
This story follows a relay team that chooses safety, honesty, and trust over winning first place.
旧照相馆底片里多出的人影
A story about a grandfather and his grandson discovering a mysterious figure in old photo negatives that leads to a touching family reunion.
评弹先生留给空椅子的开场白
An elderly Suzhou pingtan performer keeps an empty chair on stage to honor his former partner.
唢呐班主把压轴曲让给了徒弟
A suona troupe leader gives his most important performance to his nervous apprentice.
泉州簪花围少插的一朵花
A girl visits Quanzhou to take a photo for her grandmother and discovers the touching story behind one missing flower.
省队选拔赛上假装受伤的对手
A story about a girl who learns that honesty is more important than winning a competition after her friend fakes an injury.
昆曲牡丹亭改了三次的唱词
A story about a Kunqu teacher who teaches his student the deep emotional meaning behind changing lyrics over time.
羽毛球赛前收到的纸条
A girl finds a mysterious note before a badminton match and learns to trust her partner.
邮局每天盖着明天日期的信
Lin Yu receives mysterious letters that seem to predict the future, but they actually help her family change what happens next.
钱塘江观潮台上突然倒插的红旗
Lin Yu notices a strange upside-down red flag during a dangerous tide and helps staff bring a boy back to safety.
古琴谱里缺的那个音
A student learns that silence and space are just as important as the notes themselves when performing a piece of music.
贵州村超决赛突然换门将的十分钟
During a village soccer final in Guizhou, an injured goalkeeper forces Lin Feng to take his place and learn to trust his teammates.
灶王爷上天前吃的那块糖
A story about a young boy who learns the value of honesty after accidentally breaking his grandmother's bowl before the Kitchen God ascends to heaven.
西安事变前夜没下完的那盘棋
A story about a young soldier and his sergeant on the night of the historic Xi'an Incident.
阳台上那盆没人认领的绿萝
A story about a woman who finds an unclaimed plant on her balcony and builds a friendship with the person who left it behind.
谁把老照相馆的钟拨慢了
A young girl and her grandfather discover why the clock in their old photo studio has been moved back by one hour.
夸父追日路上扔下的拐杖
A story about a giant named Kua Fu who tries to catch the sun and leaves behind a special gift for others.
每周寄回原处的旧车票
A woman discovers that old train tickets returned by the post office connect two people who have waited forty years to meet again.
哥哥替妹妹签下的那张家长回执
A brother signs his mother's name on a school form to help his sister, but the family learns that honesty and sharing responsibility are important.
婚礼请柬上写错的那个名字
A bride discovers a mistake on her wedding invitations involving the name of her ex-boyfriend.
抢最后一笼汤包的两家人
A heartwarming story about two families who meet at their favorite soup dumpling shop for the last time and discover a surprising connection from the past.
两个村子争的那碗豆腐脑
A short story about two neighboring villages that bridge their differences over a bowl of tofu pudding.
社区食堂只卖半份饭的星期三
On a Wednesday when a community cafeteria sells only half portions, Lin Yue learns that taking less can offer more choice and reduce waste.
1972年那场秘密的乒乓球局
A story about a secret table tennis match in 1972 that helped bridge the gap between China and the US.
演出前一秒断掉的琴弦
A young violinist learns the true meaning of friendship after a stressful accident before a big performance.
长江源头冰川裂开的那道缝
A young scientist discovers a time capsule left by her grandfather in a glacier, bridging the past and the present.
同学录里被撕掉的那页
Two friends reconcile after a long-standing misunderstanding regarding a torn page in their old class memory book.
潮汕英歌舞队少的那张脸谱
A story about a grandfather and his grandson working together to find a missing traditional face mask design for their dance team.
圆明园那面没被烧毁的镜子
A story about a young gardener at the Old Summer Palace who protects a precious mirror during its destruction.
最后一块宁波年糕该留给谁
A family learns that sharing the last piece of rice cake can bring love and reconciliation.
台风来临前的最后一班渡船
A young girl named Xiaoyu braves an approaching typhoon to bring life-saving medicine back to her sick grandmother.
打了三十年牛肉丸的那双手
A story about a father who refuses to sell his traditional beef ball recipe, choosing instead to pass the craft on to his son.
胡同里最后一位修钟人
A touching story about an elderly clock repairman in an old Beijing hutong who connects with a customer through a cherished memory.
暴雨困住的那队采茶人
A young girl named Xiaomin learns the value of kindness while tea picking in the mountains during a sudden storm.
共享单车筐里的那束花
A heartwarming story about a young woman who discovers mysterious flowers in her bike basket and learns the truth about a kind stranger.
外卖送错门牌号的那晚
A delivery driver makes a mistake by going to the wrong apartment, leading to an unexpected and heartwarming connection with an elderly woman.
父子俩十年不说话的年夜饭
A father and son reconcile during a Chinese New Year dinner after ten years of silence.
孟婆汤只能喝一半的规矩
A young woman learns the rules of the Bridge of Forgetfulness and finds a way to keep a small spark of love for her next life.
潮州工夫茶三巡不同的规矩
A story about the traditional etiquette of Chaozhou Gongfu tea and how it facilitates reconciliation between two old friends.
B1 Chinese Stories
喜马拉雅雪线上失踪的向导
A story about a photographer and her guide who encounters a dangerous blizzard in the Himalayas while searching for a snow leopard.
两代人争的那坛月子米酒
A heartwarming story about two grandmothers whose competitive love for their postpartum daughter-in-law leads to a creative solution to their disagreement over rice wine recipes.
不能推开的第九扇门
After returning to her late grandmother's old house, a young woman named Lin Xue faces the mystery of a forbidden door that holds a family secret.
兵马俑工匠为何一夜消失
A touching story about a veteran artisan who makes a life-saving sacrifice for his apprentice as the construction of the Terracotta Army reaches its final, secret stage.
包子铺每天多出的那一笼
A story about a kind-hearted steamed bun shop owner and a secret act of charity that brings warmth to a neighborhood.
张大千临摹敦煌壁画的三年
This story follows artist Zhang Daqian as he spends three years in Dunhuang meticulously copying ancient murals despite financial hardship and moral dilemmas.
小区群里那条从没回复的消息
A story about a resident who discovers an old, unanswered message in her neighborhood chat group and learns the value of real-world connections.
那场输了三十年的龙舟赛
A young girl discovers the secret behind her village's thirty-year losing streak in a dragon boat race and leads her team to an unexpected victory.
马拉松终点前摔倒的那个人
A determined woman named Su Min chooses to help a fellow runner during her first marathon instead of pursuing her own best time, learning a profound lesson about character.
沙漠电台最后一次呼叫
A dedicated radio operator in the desert manages to save a lost traveler during his final shift at the station.
苗寨对歌台上没唱完的那首歌
A young cultural worker discovers the hidden truth behind an elderly woman's unfinished song in a Miao village.
火车站前卖信的老人
An elderly man at a train station helps a young woman reconcile with her father through the power of writing.
毕业十年后回来的那个座位
A story about a woman who returns to her high school classroom ten years later to find an old letter and reconcile with her former classmate.
父亲藏起来的月饼模具
A story about a child who discovers an old mooncake mold, helping their father reconcile with a painful memory of his own father.