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Original Mandarin Stories

Read the complete original story and its chapters.

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Every reading sits at the level where most of its words are taught

HSK 167 readings HSK 232 readings HSK 328 readings HSK 435 readings HSK 519 readings HSK 620 readings

131 readings

Story · 2 min audio嫦娥奔月The legend of Chang’eTen suns in the sky. One elixir. And the woman China looks for on the moon every Mid-Autumn.HSK 5

Story · 4 min audio三打白骨精Sun Wukong and the White Bone DemonA girl bringing lunch. A weeping old woman. An old man at prayer. Wukong sees the same demon every time, and his master sees a murderer.

Story · 1 min audio画蛇添足Drawing legs on a snakeOne cup of wine. A race to draw a snake. The fastest man has time to spare.HSK 3

Story · 1 min audio我在咖啡店门口How to take a taxi in ChineseOne sentence, practised ten times. Two coffee shops. A driver on the other side of the road.HSK 2

Story · 3 min audio牛郎织女The Cowherd and the Weaver Girl: the story behind QixiA cowherd with nothing but an old ox. A weaver girl from heaven. A river of stars between them, and one night a year to cross it.HSK 4

Story · 3 min audio木兰从军The real story of MulanA girl at her loom. Her father’s name on every army list. Twelve years at war, and no one guesses.HSK 5

Story · 1 min audio怎么吃火锅How to eat hot pot in ChinaA first night in Chengdu. One boast before he sits down. And a “mild” that is not mild at all.HSK 3

Story · 1 min audio谁爱吃茄子Who Likes EggplantA new couple keeps buying eggplant for each other. Neither can understand why dinner is becoming such hard work.HSK 3

Story · 1 min audio最安静的地方The Quietest PlaceWith an online job interview about to begin and drills on every side, Chen Yi finds one quiet place. Unfortunately, it keeps moving.HSK 4

Story · 2 min audio我的房间My RoomHer mother sends a photograph of her childhood bedroom. The bed is gone. Going home suddenly means finding out where she fits now.HSK 4

Story · 2 min audio明天的购物单Tomorrow’s Shopping ListA notebook tells Xu Ran what she will buy tomorrow: a bowl, bandages, and cat food. She does not own a cat, and she has no intention of getting one.HSK 6

Story series · Chapter 1 of 12 · 1 min audio豆腐不见了The cat that didn’t come homeA fat white cat on a strict diet goes missing. A retired policeman and his ten-year-old granddaughter knock on every door. Every neighbour is hiding something.HSK 2