Read for the gist first
Read a whole section before looking anything up. Intermediate texts give enough context to guess most new words — train that skill.
Intermediate Chinese Stories
Intermediate Chinese Stories
Past the basics but not yet fluent? These 14 intermediate Chinese stories (14 at B1 and 0 at B2) are the bridge. They use richer vocabulary, idiomatic phrasing, and longer storylines, with audio narration and comprehension quizzes so you can stretch your Chinese without getting lost.
14stories14narrated with audio~11min average read
How to get the most from intermediate stories
At B1–B2 the goal shifts from decoding words to reading for meaning and noticing how Chinese really works.
Notice phrasing in context
Watch how tenses, phrasal verbs, and connectors are used in real sentences. Seeing them in a story beats memorizing rules.
Collect idioms and collocations
Intermediate stories are full of natural phrasing. Save the idioms and word pairings you meet — they make you sound fluent.
Check yourself with the quiz
Finish with the comprehension quiz, then re-listen to the audio at full speed to push your listening.
Featured intermediate stories
B1 and B2, mixed topics
Nature & Adventure
The Guide Who Went Missing on the Himalayan Snow Line
A story about a photographer and her guide who encounters a dangerous blizzard in the Himalayas while searching for a snow leopard.
B19 min868 wordsAudio7 key wordsQuiz
Food & Cuisine
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.
B19 min889 wordsAudio7 key wordsQuiz
Myths & Legends
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.
B110 min981 wordsAudio7 key wordsQuiz
History
Why Did the Terracotta Army Artisans Disappear Overnight?
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.
B111 min1060 wordsAudio5 key wordsQuiz
Mystery
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.
B111 min1072 wordsAudio6 key wordsQuiz
Music & Arts
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.
B111 min1115 wordsAudio7 key wordsQuiz
Daily Life
That Never-Replied Message in the Neighborhood Group
A story about a resident who discovers an old, unanswered message in her neighborhood chat group and learns the value of real-world connections.
B111 min1123 wordsAudio5 key wordsQuiz
Sports
The Thirty-Year Lost Dragon Boat Race
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.
B111 min1144 wordsAudio5 key wordsQuiz
Sports
The Person Who Fell Before the Marathon Finish Line
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.
B112 min1175 wordsAudio8 key wordsQuiz
Nature & Adventure
Desert Radio Station's Final Call
A dedicated radio operator in the desert manages to save a lost traveler during his final shift at the station.
B112 min1191 wordsAudio5 key wordsQuiz
Culture & Travel
The Song Left Unsung on the Duet Stage in the Miao Village
A young cultural worker discovers the hidden truth behind an elderly woman's unfinished song in a Miao village.
B112 min1241 wordsAudio6 key wordsQuiz
Culture & Travel
The Elderly Man Who Sold Letters at the Train Station
An elderly man at a train station helps a young woman reconcile with her father through the power of writing.
B113 min1264 wordsAudio6 key wordsQuiz
Relationships & Drama
The Seat She Returned To Ten Years After Graduation
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.
B114 min1364 wordsAudio5 key wordsQuiz
Food & Cuisine
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.
B114 min1422 wordsAudio5 key wordsQuiz
Intermediate stories by level
Chinese StoriesB1 Chinese stories
View all →The Guide Who Went Missing on the Himalayan Snow Line
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.
Why Did the Terracotta Army Artisans Disappear Overnight?
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.
That Never-Replied Message in the Neighborhood Group
A story about a resident who discovers an old, unanswered message in her neighborhood chat group and learns the value of real-world connections.
The Thirty-Year Lost Dragon Boat Race
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.
Reach fluency faster with the app
Inklingo tracks the words and idioms you save from intermediate stories and brings them back with spaced repetition, so your reading turns into lasting vocabulary.
Intermediate Chinese stories FAQ
What level are intermediate Chinese stories?
Intermediate stories sit at CEFR levels B1 and B2. B1 covers everyday situations and connected narratives; B2 adds nuance, idioms, and more complex grammar.
How do I know if I am ready?
If A2 stories feel easy and you can follow a short text without translating every sentence, start with B1, then move to B2 when longer sentences feel comfortable.
Do intermediate stories have audio?
Yes. Each story includes full audio narration, so you can build listening comprehension at intermediate speed while you read.
Are these graded readers?
Yes — every story is graded to its CEFR level, so vocabulary and grammar stay appropriate for B1 or B2 instead of overwhelming you.