Chinese stories - Read them, speak them
Here we provide a list of Chinese reading materials. You can use Smart Chinese Reader to study them. You will easily understand Chinese words and their usages, learn Chinese syntax, and practice speaking Mandarin with the software.

The collection includes traditional Chinese stories, essays about China's current affairs, and texts on daily life in China. They are at three reading levels: Beginner, Intermediate, and Advanced. Find articles that are suitable for your reading skill, try to recognize sentence structures, and pick up the occasional new vocabulary words. As more articles you get through, your Chinese reading skill improves.

Chinese articles are presented in a way that is easy to read. For each story or essay, English translation, statistics of words in HSK 1, HSK 2, HSK 3, HSK 4, HSK 5, HSK 6, and key points of lexicon and syntax are provided. We also offer audio files for you to play and download. If you have comments or questions concerning a Chinese story or essay, just post them below the story or essay.

Select a category:   story   essay   life

TitletypeLevelTotalHSK1HSK2HSK3HSK4HSK5HSK6
画蛇添足
Adding Feet to a Snake
story beginner1655414199114
画饼充饥
Relieving hunger with a picture of cakes
story beginner811579446
草木皆兵
Every bush and tree looks like an enemy
story intermediate1091639473
望梅止渴
Quenching Thirst by Watching Plums
story advanced321882219161512
南辕北辙
Going South by Driving the Chariot north
story beginner137441013955
抱薪救火
Carry a faggot to put out the fire
story advanced355682531141923
小马过河
A little horse crossed the river
story Intermediate3168826291664
三个好朋友
Three Good Friends
story beginner10133482140
聪明的国王所罗门
The Clever King Solomon
story beginner19159152012103
聪明的乌龟
A Smart Tortoise
story beginner1865411161666