--- title: "Chinese Stories Podcast by HSK Level (HSK 1 to 7–9), Free with Transcripts | Mandarin The Wild" description: "Seven free Chinese podcasts, one for each HSK level: short stories and articles read aloud, a few minutes each, every episode with its Chinese text and a link to read it with pinyin and tap any word." canonical: "https://mandarinthewild.com/chinese-podcast" author: "Mandarin The Wild" --- Free · 7 shows · 444 episodes # A Chinese stories podcast for your HSK level One show for each level, HSK 1 to 7–9. Each episode is one short story or article read aloud, a few minutes long, with its Chinese in the notes and a link to read it with pinyin over every word. 燕子yànziswallow ## HSK 1 Chinese Stories 63 episodes · 53 min · [read them in the Library](https://mandarinthewild.com/library/hsk-1) [Open in Apple Podcasts](podcast://mandarinthewild.com/podcast/hsk-1.xml) Any other app: add [mandarinthewild.com/podcast/hsk-1.xml](https://mandarinthewild.com/podcast/hsk-1.xml) [中国人住在哪儿？ Where do most people live in China?](https://mandarinthewild.com/library/read/where-do-most-people-live-in-china) 1 min [几岁可以结婚？ What is the legal marriage age in China?](https://mandarinthewild.com/library/read/what-is-the-legal-marriage-age-in-china) 1 min [自来水能喝吗？ Can you drink tap water in China?](https://mandarinthewild.com/library/read/can-you-drink-tap-water-in-china) 1 min ## HSK 2 Chinese Stories 71 episodes · 1 h 02 min · [read them in the Library](https://mandarinthewild.com/library/hsk-2) [Open in Apple Podcasts](podcast://mandarinthewild.com/podcast/hsk-2.xml) Any other app: add [mandarinthewild.com/podcast/hsk-2.xml](https://mandarinthewild.com/podcast/hsk-2.xml) [谁先下班？ How to say finish work in Chinese](https://mandarinthewild.com/library/read/how-to-say-finish-work-in-chinese) 1 min [星期五（下） Friday (part 2)](https://mandarinthewild.com/library/read/friday-again-easy-chinese-time-loop-story-2) 3 min [星期五（上） Friday (part 1)](https://mandarinthewild.com/library/read/friday-again-easy-chinese-time-loop-story-1) 3 min ## HSK 3 Chinese Stories 128 episodes · 3 h 57 min · [read them in the Library](https://mandarinthewild.com/library/hsk-3) [Open in Apple Podcasts](podcast://mandarinthewild.com/podcast/hsk-3.xml) Any other app: add [mandarinthewild.com/podcast/hsk-3.xml](https://mandarinthewild.com/podcast/hsk-3.xml) [游刃有余 Cook Ding carves an ox](https://mandarinthewild.com/library/read/you-ren-you-yu-cook-ding-carves-an-ox) 2 min [七楼 · 第二十九天 The Seventh Floor, Episode 29: Waiting on the Roof](https://mandarinthewild.com/library/read/the-seventh-floor-episode-29-waiting-on-the-roof) 2 min [七楼 · 第二十八天 The Seventh Floor, Episode 28: The Train Ticket](https://mandarinthewild.com/library/read/the-seventh-floor-episode-28-the-train-ticket) 2 min ## HSK 4 Chinese Stories 52 episodes · 1 h 23 min · [read them in the Library](https://mandarinthewild.com/library/hsk-4) [Open in Apple Podcasts](podcast://mandarinthewild.com/podcast/hsk-4.xml) Any other app: add [mandarinthewild.com/podcast/hsk-4.xml](https://mandarinthewild.com/podcast/hsk-4.xml) [一半的孩子戴眼镜 Why do so many Chinese children wear glasses?](https://mandarinthewild.com/library/read/why-do-so-many-chinese-children-wear-glasses) 1 min [晚三年退休 What is the retirement age in China?](https://mandarinthewild.com/library/read/what-is-the-retirement-age-in-china) 1 min [“两会”是什么？ What are the Two Sessions in China?](https://mandarinthewild.com/library/read/what-are-the-two-sessions-in-china) 1 min ## HSK 5 Chinese Stories 86 episodes · 3 h 41 min · [read them in the Library](https://mandarinthewild.com/library/hsk-5) [Open in Apple Podcasts](podcast://mandarinthewild.com/podcast/hsk-5.xml) Any other app: add [mandarinthewild.com/podcast/hsk-5.xml](https://mandarinthewild.com/podcast/hsk-5.xml) [华容道 The Huarong Road](https://mandarinthewild.com/library/read/the-huarong-road-three-kingdoms-intermediate-chinese-16) 4 min [借东风 Borrowing the East Wind](https://mandarinthewild.com/library/read/borrowing-the-east-wind-three-kingdoms-intermediate-chinese-15) 4 min [苦肉计 The Beaten General](https://mandarinthewild.com/library/read/the-beaten-general-three-kingdoms-intermediate-chinese-14) 3 min ## HSK 6 Chinese Stories 33 episodes · 1 h 25 min · [read them in the Library](https://mandarinthewild.com/library/hsk-6) [Open in Apple Podcasts](podcast://mandarinthewild.com/podcast/hsk-6.xml) Any other app: add [mandarinthewild.com/podcast/hsk-6.xml](https://mandarinthewild.com/podcast/hsk-6.xml) [电动车为什么不能进电梯？ Why are e-bikes banned from lifts in China?](https://mandarinthewild.com/library/read/why-are-e-bikes-banned-from-lifts-in-china) 3 min [什么是“坐月子”？ What is zuo yuezi? Chinese postpartum confinement explained](https://mandarinthewild.com/library/read/what-is-zuo-yuezi-chinese-postpartum-confinement-explained) 3 min [“绿色长城”是什么？ What is China's Great Green Wall?](https://mandarinthewild.com/library/read/what-is-chinas-great-green-wall) 3 min ## HSK 7–9 Chinese Stories 11 episodes · 36 min · [read them in the Library](https://mandarinthewild.com/library/hsk-7-9) [Open in Apple Podcasts](podcast://mandarinthewild.com/podcast/hsk-7-9.xml) Any other app: add [mandarinthewild.com/podcast/hsk-7-9.xml](https://mandarinthewild.com/podcast/hsk-7-9.xml) [草船借箭 Borrowing Arrows with Straw Boats](https://mandarinthewild.com/library/read/borrowing-arrows-with-straw-boats-three-kingdoms-advanced-chinese-13) 4 min [单骑救主 Zhao Yun Rides Alone](https://mandarinthewild.com/library/read/zhao-yun-rides-alone-three-kingdoms-advanced-chinese-9) 4 min [“一带一路”到底是什么？ What is China’s Belt and Road Initiative?](https://mandarinthewild.com/library/read/what-is-the-belt-and-road-initiative) 1 min HSK 1 · Now hear it in a real story ## 十两饺子 How to order dumplings in Chinese 莎拉来中国的第三天，她想一个人去吃饺子。 饭馆很小，人很多。 莎拉坐下说：“我要饺子！” 老板问：“几两？” [Keep reading](https://mandarinthewild.com/library/read/how-to-order-dumplings-in-chinese#library-word-57-65) ## Which level should I start with? The one where you understand most of an episode without reading along. If HSK 1 is easy, try HSK 2: each show uses the words of its own level, and a reading names any word above it. ## Are there transcripts? Yes. Every episode’s notes carry its full Chinese text, and its link opens the reading with pinyin over every word: tap any word for its meaning in that sentence and its sound. ## Who reads them? AI voices, one man and one woman, in standard Mandarin at a learner’s pace. The stories and articles are written for learners at each level. ## Is it free? Yes, every episode, in any podcast app, with no account. ## How often are there new episodes? Whenever a reading joins the Library at that level. The newest are at the top of each show. ## More to listen to [The best Chinese podcasts for learners](https://mandarinthewild.com/guides/best-chinese-podcasts), with how much of each a learner understands · [Listening practice by level](https://mandarinthewild.com/chinese-listening-practice) · [The Library](https://mandarinthewild.com/library)