Articles
Articles
Read and listen to short Chinese texts: conversations between two people and short news items. You can switch between characters, pinyin and English, play the whole thing and then test yourself with a few multiple-choice questions. Choose a text below.
Type
Level
Category
Progress
Surprise
- 01 Nice to meet you Li Ming and Wang Li meet for the first time: names, where they are from and what they do — all in HSK 1 Chinese.
- 02 What would you like to drink? At a restaurant: Xiao Mei and Da Wei order tea, rice and a dish, and ask how much it costs — HSK 1 vocabulary only.
- 03 What time is it? Tom is late for class: a short chat about the time, today's date and what to do this afternoon — HSK 1 level.
- 04 This is my family Anna shows a photo of her family: who is who, how old they are and what they do — a simple HSK 1 dialogue.
- 05 Going shopping In a clothes shop: Wang Fang wants to buy clothes, asks the price and pays — HSK 1 words plus a few shop basics.
- 06 News: a cold weekend in Beijing A very short weather report in HSK 1 Chinese: cold days, rain on Sunday and what people are doing.
- 07 News: a new restaurant near the school A new restaurant has opened next to the school: cheap rice dishes, tea and happy students — an HSK 1 news item.
- 08 News: a cat in the hospital A small cat walked into a Beijing hospital and now lives there — a light HSK 1 news story with numbers, places and people.
- 09 News: students learn Chinese online More and more students learn Chinese on the computer: a short HSK 1 news item about studying, teachers and time.
- 10 News: new taxis in the city The city has new taxis: cheaper, cleaner and easy to call by phone — a simple HSK 1 transport news item.
- 11 This is my home Xiaomei shows her friend Dawei around her home, from her desk and computer to her mother's cat, in a simple HSK 1 conversation.
- 12 What do you like to do? Wang Ming and Li Li talk about films and books, then plan to see a movie together, in an easy HSK 1 dialogue about hobbies.
- 13 My good friend Xiaoyu tells Anna about her friend and classmate Zhang Xiaohua, and the two decide to invite her to lunch, in a short HSK 1 conversation.
- 14 How much are the apples? Mr Li buys apples and tea in a small shop and adds up the prices, practising HSK 1 numbers and money words.
- 15 New clothes for the cold A mother tells her son Xiaolong he needs warmer clothes and plans a shopping trip, in a simple HSK 1 conversation about clothing.
- 16 News: A doctor comes to the school A hospital doctor visits a school and gives students simple health tips for cold weather, in a short HSK 1 news item.
- 17 News: A taxi driver in Beijing A Beijing taxi driver who loves his job returns a teacher's forgotten book, in a short HSK 1 news story about work.
- 18 News: A first flight to Beijing Mr Zhang and his eight-year-old daughter fly to Beijing for a three-day trip in this short HSK 1 travel news item.
- 19 News: The shop with a big dog A small shop behind the school is popular with students thanks to Dada, the owner's friendly dog, in a short HSK 1 city news item.
- 20 News: Going home for New Year Shops are full and Miss Li flies home to her parents as everyone gets ready for New Year, in a short HSK 1 festival news item.
- 21 Who ate the apples? Four apples were on the table and now three are gone – a mother and son find the surprising culprit in this HSK 1 conversation.
- 22 No tea in this restaurant Miss Li orders lunch in a small restaurant with no tea and a very big dish – an HSK 1 conversation about ordering food.
- 23 Hot water and sleep Mr. Zhang got soaked in the rain and now feels cold; the doctor's advice in this HSK 1 conversation is simple – and includes a day off.
- 24 Five books and one movie Dawei loves reading and Xiaoyu loves Chinese movies – two schoolmates compare hobbies and make a plan in this HSK 1 conversation.
- 25 In front or behind? Two friends are waiting for each other at a restaurant but can't find one another – a funny HSK 1 phone conversation with a twist.
- 26 News: Twenty students visit Beijing A class of ten-year-olds and their teacher fly to Beijing for a school trip – a short HSK 1 news report.
- 27 News: Mother and daughter, both doctors A mother with thirty years at the hospital now works alongside her daughter – an HSK 1 news item about work and family.
- 28 News: Books for one yuan A small shop near the school sells every book for one yuan this week, and students rush in – an HSK 1 news item about shopping.
- 29 News: Too hot at noon A hot week has the whole town staying indoors at midday and buying up all the water – an HSK 1 weather news item.
- 30 News: A bus for the students A school gets its own bus, so students no longer need expensive taxis – an HSK 1 news item about transport.
- 31 Who cooks today? Mom has to work, so ten-year-old Xiao Ming promises to cook rice and vegetables for Dad in this HSK 1 conversation.
- 32 Wrong number Mr Wang calls the wrong number while waiting for a friend at a restaurant, with a surprising twist, in this HSK 1 conversation.
- 33 Four small cups Anna wants to buy cups for tea but only has thirty yuan; a kind shop assistant helps her count, in this HSK 1 conversation.
- 34 Dad, let's play ball! Ten-year-old Xiao Long talks his tired dad into playing ball with his classmates at school in this HSK 1 conversation.
- 35 A name for the dog Xiao Yu's new dog has no name yet, and her friend David has some funny ideas, in this HSK 1 conversation.
- 36 News: Twenty chairs in front of the shops A shopkeeper puts twenty big chairs outside and the whole street comes to sit, eat and read, in this HSK 1 news item.
- 37 News: A 68-year-old learns to write Mr Zhang never went to school as a child; now, at 68, he learns to write characters alongside seven-year-olds, in this HSK 1 news item.
- 38 News: Watching the moon at school Students who cannot go home for the Mid-Autumn Festival eat mooncakes and watch the moon with their teachers, in this HSK 1 news item.
- 39 News: After three days of rain After three cold rainy days in Beijing, the sun is back and families head up the mountain to see the water, in this HSK 1 news item.
- 40 News: The small tea shop behind the hospital A 79-year-old tea master has served tea for fifty years, and now Chinese-language students come to learn from him, in this HSK 1 news item.
- 41 How do I get to the train station? Li Ming needs to pick up his sister at the train station and Wang Fang tells him which bus to take, an HSK 2 dialogue.
- 42 My little brother is sick Xiao Lin's younger brother is ill and Zhang Li offers to visit him together, an HSK 2 dialogue about health.
- 43 Buying a new shirt Anna wants a red shirt but it is too expensive, so she tries a cheaper white one, an HSK 2 shopping dialogue.
- 44 Dad's birthday dinner Xiao Ming and his mother plan a birthday dinner and a surprise present for Dad, an HSK 2 family dialogue.
- 45 After the exam Xiao Hong has just finished a long exam and David invites her to go singing with everyone tonight, an HSK 2 dialogue about school life.
- 46 News: First snow of the year The first snow of the year makes children happy but slows down the buses, a short HSK 2 weather news item.
- 47 News: New bus to the airport A new red bus will run between the train station and the airport every fifteen minutes, an HSK 2 transport news item.
- 48 News: Sports day at the primary school Pupils run, play football and basketball on a sunny sports day while parents watch, an HSK 2 sport news item.
- 49 News: Watermelons are cheap this week A big watermelon harvest means prices are half what they were last year, an HSK 2 food news item.
- 50 News: New hotel next to the station A large new hotel with 300 rooms has opened a five-minute walk from the train station, an HSK 2 city news item.
- 51 What do you do in the evening? Xiaoyu and David compare hobbies, from basketball to singing lessons and jogging, in this HSK 2 conversation.
- 52 Our new home Wang Fang shows her husband their new flat, room by room, and they argue about the colour of the door in this HSK 2 dialogue.
- 53 Waiting for a new friend Anna meets Xiao Lin's new friend Zhang Wen, a tall man who laughs a lot and speaks slowly, in this HSK 2 conversation.
- 54 A watch for Mum Xiaomei wants to buy her mother an expensive watch and asks her brother to chip in, in this HSK 2 dialogue about saving money.
- 55 A new outfit for the trip Liu Li tries on a red outfit before her holiday and bargains with the shop assistant in this HSK 2 shopping conversation.
- 56 News: Company gives staff Friday afternoons off A local company lets tired employees leave at noon on Fridays and opens a sports room next door, reported in simple HSK 2 Chinese.
- 57 News: Little black dog waits three days at the station A lost dog waits at the train station until station staff spread the word and its family comes to find it, told in HSK 2 Chinese.
- 58 News: Over a thousand celebrate New Year at local school Students and teachers in red clothes sing, dance and eat together while snow falls outside, in this HSK 2 festival news item.
- 59 News: Free internet on every city bus from Monday Passengers will soon be able to use their phones online for free on local buses, explained in short HSK 2 sentences.
- 60 News: First snow of the year turns the town white Five hours of snow delight children and slow the buses, and a doctor tells people to dress warmly, in this HSK 2 weather report.
- 61 Teaching my little sister to swim Xiaoyu asks her big brother to teach her to swim and discovers a family secret, in an HSK 2 conversation.
- 62 The fish is sold out Mr Zhang wants fish for lunch, but the waiter has a cheaper idea, in an HSK 2 conversation.
- 63 A quiet room at the hotel Li Na arrives tired after a six-hour train ride and asks the hotel for a quieter room, in an HSK 2 conversation.
- 64 Go home and rest Xiao Wang keeps making mistakes at work, and his boss Mr Chen finds out why, in an HSK 2 conversation.
- 65 Where is my phone? Xiaomei's phone has vanished and her friend David has a quick idea to find it, in an HSK 2 conversation.
- 66 News: Doctors get the whole town running at six Hospital doctors start a free six o'clock running group and hundreds join in, in an HSK 2 news item.
- 67 News: Free eggs at seven for the first fifty A small shop by the station gives away eggs every morning and suddenly has a queue at six, in an HSK 2 news item.
- 68 News: Sun comes out after nine days of rain After nine rainy days the town wakes up to a clear sky, washes everything and heads outside, in an HSK 2 news item.
- 69 News: The slow train is suddenly popular A five-yuan slow train that takes three hours is selling out every day thanks to its views, in an HSK 2 news item.
- 70 News: Twelve-year-old leads the evening dance More than fifty retirees dance every evening behind a twelve-year-old girl who started it all with her mum, in an HSK 2 news item.
- 71 The white top that turned red Zhang Wei does the washing and Wang Li's white top comes out red; a short HSK 2 conversation at home.
- 72 Wait for the bus or walk? Two colleagues give up on a slow bus and walk to work, until the bus finally shows up; an HSK 2 conversation about city traffic.
- 73 Question three Before class, Xiaoyu asks Teacher Li about a homework question her seven-year-old sister says she got wrong; an HSK 2 classroom conversation.
- 74 Too tired to exercise? David is tired every day; Xiaohong, who runs at six each morning, talks him into basketball at seven; an HSK 2 conversation about sport.
- 75 A video call with grandma Xiaoyu helps her grandmother make her first video call on a new phone — from the camera to the button for hanging up — in HSK 2 Chinese.
- 76 News: White cat attends class every morning A white cat turns up at a primary school at eight every morning, gets milk from the children and listens at the classroom door; HSK 2 news.
- 77 News: Two thousand people watch the moon together On Mid-Autumn night more than two thousand people fill the park to watch the moon, sing, dance and eat cheap mooncakes; HSK 2 news.
- 78 News: Sun returns after twelve cloudy days After twelve grey, rainy days the sky clears on Sunday and the whole town heads outside; an HSK 2 news item about weather and nature.
- 79 News: Nine-year-old sells his books and buys Grandma a gift At a school sale a nine-year-old sells forty books for 108 yuan and spends it on a red top for his grandma's birthday; HSK 2 news about money.
- 80 News: Six-year-old writes the best character on library Writing Day Over a hundred people pick up a brush at the library's Writing Day, and a six-year-old who learned from her grandpa writes the best character; HSK 2 news.
- 81 Moving to a new apartment Wang Fang tells her friend about her new apartment, her kind neighbour and a housewarming dinner – an HSK 3 conversation.
- 82 At the doctor with a cold Zhang Wei has a fever and a headache, but he worries about an important meeting – an HSK 3 conversation at the doctor's.
- 83 Planning a weekend hike Xiao Lin persuades David to climb the famous mountain south of the city and they plan the trip – an HSK 3 conversation.
- 84 A birthday gift for Grandma A sister and brother discuss what to give their grandmother for her seventieth birthday and settle on a photo book – an HSK 3 conversation.
- 85 Late for the meeting Liu Yang arrives half an hour late because the subway broke down, and explains himself to his manager – an HSK 3 conversation at work.
- 86 News: The city's third subway line opens A new subway line with eighteen stations cuts the north–south journey to 35 minutes – an HSK 3 news report.
- 87 News: A baby panda gets a name A panda at the city zoo has a cub, and twenty thousand people help choose its name – an HSK 3 news report.
- 88 News: Sports day at No. 2 Middle School A school holds its yearly sports competition, a third-year girl breaks a record and the principal runs too – an HSK 3 news report.
- 89 News: The hottest week of the summer A heatwave empties the streets at noon, libraries open their air-conditioned halls and even the pandas get iced fruit – an HSK 3 news report.
- 90 News: A tiny street library A retired teacher builds a one-metre-tall library on her street and the whole neighbourhood starts reading – an HSK 3 news report.
- 91 Dinner at the Fish Restaurant Li Hua takes Wang Fang to a famous local restaurant, where they order fresh fish and test her chopstick skills (HSK 3).
- 92 A Shirt and a Pair of Shoes Xiao Li and Zhang Ming go shopping for a shirt and leather shoes, compare prices and pay by credit card (HSK 3).
- 93 Planning a Trip to Xi'an Wang Ping and Li Na plan a four-day spring trip to Xi'an, choosing the train, a hotel by the subway and what to pack (HSK 3).
- 94 Bikes and History Books Xiao Yu and David compare hobbies, from weekend cycling to borrowing history books, and plan a weekend together (HSK 3).
- 95 Old Friends Meet Again Li Ming bumps into his old friend Zhang Wei after almost ten years and they catch up on marriage, work and lost phone numbers (HSK 3).
- 96 News: Old Building Gets a New Elevator Neighbours in a seven-storey building pay together for a new elevator, and an 80-year-old resident can finally go out every day (HSK 3).
- 97 News: A Thousand New Trees for Nanshan Park Over three hundred residents and their children plant more than a thousand trees in Nanshan Park on a single morning (HSK 3).
- 98 News: Seniors Learn to Go Online A neighbourhood 'phone class' taught by university students helps forty elderly residents send emails, read news and chat with family (HSK 3).
- 99 News: Twenty Thousand Watch the Moon Riverside Park fills with families, mooncakes and old stories on a clear Mid-Autumn Festival night (HSK 3).
- 100 News: Young People Are Saving More A local bank finds that over half of young adults now save every month, thinking twice before using their credit cards (HSK 3).
- 101 Cleaning Up Before Grandma Arrives A brother and sister argue about who cleans what before their grandmother's visit – an HSK 3 Chinese conversation about family and chores.
- 102 The Cake That Went Wrong Two flatmates bake a birthday cake for their manager, but it comes out flat and far too sweet – an HSK 3 Chinese conversation about food.
- 103 Asking for a Day Off Zhang Wei needs two days off for his brother's wedding, but an important meeting falls on the same day – an HSK 3 Chinese conversation about work.
- 104 The Credit Card Won't Work Chen Li wants a hat and an umbrella, but her credit card is refused just as it starts to rain – an HSK 3 Chinese conversation about shopping.
- 105 Lost in the Park Two friends agree to meet in the park but end up at opposite gates with a film about to start – an HSK 3 Chinese phone conversation about friends.
- 106 News: Boat Trips Return to the Old Town After three years without boats, visitors can again drift past the old town's streets while elderly boatmen tell its stories – an HSK 3 Chinese news report about travel.
- 107 News: Free Health Checks for Over-60s The city's hospitals start offering free health checks to residents over sixty, with advice on eating and exercise – an HSK 3 Chinese news report about health.
- 108 News: Strong Wind Hits the City A sudden gale blows away hats, breaks umbrellas and sends school children home early – an HSK 3 Chinese news report about the weather.
- 109 News: Night Buses for People Who Work Late Five new night buses will run on the main streets after the subway closes, with twenty volunteer drivers – an HSK 3 Chinese news report about transport.
- 110 News: Adult Painting Class Fills Up in a Day A culture centre's painting class for adults draws over a hundred sign-ups in one day, from students to retired drivers – an HSK 3 Chinese news report about hobbies.
- 111 The Fridge Stopped Working On a hot day a couple discover their old fridge has died and must decide what to do with the food and the money — an HSK 3 conversation.
- 112 Revising for the Maths Test Two classmates arrange to revise for a maths test together and discover an unexpected teacher — an HSK 3 conversation about school.
- 113 Training for the Bike Race Aqiang talks a reluctant friend into training for a bicycle race to the Yellow River, with early mornings and a bet — an HSK 3 conversation.
- 114 Looking After the Neighbour's Dog A neighbour asks a young man who is scared of dogs to look after her tiny pet for ten days — an HSK 3 conversation about animals.
- 115 Borrowing Money for a Camera Zhou Jie wants to borrow money for an expensive camera, but his friend has a smarter idea — an HSK 3 conversation about spending and saving.
- 116 News: New Lights for an Old Street An old, dark street in the east of the city gets fifty new lamps, bringing back evening walkers and restaurant customers — an HSK 3 news item.
- 117 News: Teachers Win the Dragon Boat Race Twenty boats race on the South River for the Dragon Boat Festival, and a team of first-time teachers takes the win — an HSK 3 news item.
- 118 News: Supermarket Lets Customers Pay by Themselves A supermarket tries self-service machines; young shoppers love it and a seventy-year-old learns to use it faster than his son — an HSK 3 news item.
- 119 News: The Big White Birds Come Back After years of cleaning the lake and planting trees, hundreds of migrating birds return to East Lake Park — an HSK 3 news item about nature.
- 120 News: Students Paint Their Street's History Forty students turn an old wall into a painting of their street's past and present, guided by an 85-year-old neighbour's stories — an HSK 3 news item.
- 121 What to do after graduation Zhang Wei is about to graduate and must choose between graduate school and a first job — an HSK 4 conversation about plans and reasons.
- 122 Planning a trip to Xi'an Li Na and Mark compare planes, trains and hotels while planning a National Day holiday trip to Xi'an — an HSK 4 conversation.
- 123 Too much overtime Chen Jing is exhausted from working late every day and wonders whether to change jobs; her friend gives advice — an HSK 4 conversation.
- 124 Choosing a new phone Xiaoyu's old phone keeps breaking down, so David helps her compare two models on camera, screen and price — an HSK 4 conversation.
- 125 Getting back in shape Lin Fang has lost six kilos and explains how she did it, then persuades Zhou Ming to start running with her — an HSK 4 conversation.
- 126 News: City library to stay open until ten The city library extends its opening hours after a reader survey, and the city adds a late bus — an HSK 4 news report.
- 127 News: Heavy rain expected this weekend Heavy rain and strong wind are forecast for the weekend, so the city advises taking the subway and postpones its sports day — an HSK 4 news report.
- 128 News: Students plant 500 trees by the river Three hundred students plant trees along a once-polluted river, and the city plans a cycle path — an HSK 4 news report.
- 129 News: New subway line cuts travel time in half Subway Line 6 opens after four years of work, linking the university district to the train station in forty minutes — an HSK 4 news report.
- 130 News: Tiny dumpling shop wins city contest A 72-year-old cook with a six-table restaurant beats 45 rivals in the city dumpling competition — an HSK 4 news report.
- 131 Planning Grandpa's 80th birthday A brother and sister discuss how to arrange their grandfather's eightieth birthday party in this HSK 4 conversation.
- 132 Learning the piano at forty Two colleagues chat about taking up the piano as an adult hobby and whether it is ever too late to start, in this HSK 4 conversation.
- 133 Saving up for a trip A young man asks his roommate how she manages to save money every month, and gets practical budgeting advice in this HSK 4 conversation.
- 134 Viewing a flat with the landlord A tenant views a rental flat, asks the landlord about the rent, furniture and repairs, and negotiates the price in this HSK 4 conversation.
- 135 Clearing up a misunderstanding Two old friends talk through a misunderstanding after one of them missed the other's birthday party, in this HSK 4 conversation about friendship.
- 136 News: Free Beijing Opera in the park draws young crowds A local news report on free weekend Beijing Opera performances in a city park that are attracting a surprisingly young audience, written for HSK 4 learners.
- 137 News: Smart rubbish bins tested in city centre A technology news item about a city testing smart rubbish bins that sort waste automatically and send messages when full, written for HSK 4 learners.
- 138 News: Grandmothers' table tennis team wins city tournament A sports news item about a team of retired women aged over sixty who beat much younger players to win a city table tennis competition, for HSK 4 learners.
- 139 News: Struggling old bookshop reopens as a book café A business news item about a forty-year-old bookshop that was nearly forced to close and has reopened as a café and bookshop with rising sales, for HSK 4 learners.
- 140 News: Lost dog found 60 kilometres from home after two weeks A heart-warming animal news story about a family dog that went missing, was found sixty kilometres away, and was returned thanks to its microchip, for HSK 4 learners.
- 141 A Stray Kitten at the Door A daughter finds a lost kitten and tries to convince her sceptical father to keep it – an HSK 4 Chinese conversation about family and responsibility.
- 142 A Dinner for Four Wang Fang wants to introduce her shy friend Xiaoya to a funny colleague and comes up with a plan – an HSK 4 Chinese conversation about friendship and dating.
- 143 Losing the First Badminton Match After losing 2–21 in his first match, Xiao Chen wants to quit badminton until an experienced colleague shares his secret – an HSK 4 Chinese conversation about hobbies and perseverance.
- 144 Exchanging Dad's Birthday Shoes Miss Liu tries to exchange a pair of shoes for a bigger size on the last possible day, but the shop has sold out – an HSK 4 Chinese conversation about shopping and returns.
- 145 Business Trip or Sister's Wedding? Xiao Wang's business trip to Guangzhou clashes with his sister's wedding, so he proposes a solution to his manager – an HSK 4 Chinese conversation about work and planning.
- 146 News: Restaurants offer half portions to cut food waste Twenty city restaurants start selling half portions at half price and see leftovers fall by forty percent – an HSK 4 Chinese news item about food and waste.
- 147 News: Free flu shots for over-60s start next Monday City hospitals offer free flu injections to the elderly after a hard winter, with tips on when to come and what to expect – an HSK 4 Chinese news item about health.
- 148 News: Old river bridge closes for three months of repairs The city's oldest bridge shuts for repairs, forcing thirty thousand drivers a day onto a detour while extra buses are laid on – an HSK 4 Chinese news item about transport.
- 149 News: Lake town limits visitors to 5,000 a day After a holiday weekend brought 20,000 tourists in one day, Yunhu Old Town introduces free online tickets and a daily cap – an HSK 4 Chinese news item about travel.
- 150 News: First snow arrives two weeks early An unexpected overnight snowfall surprises the city, slows traffic, delights children and sells out the milk tea – an HSK 4 Chinese news item about weather.
- 151 A kitten on the balcony A thin stray kitten turns up on a couple's balcony and they must decide whether to keep it in this HSK 4 conversation.
- 152 Which room is yours? Two friends move into a rented flat and work out who gets the big room, who pays what, and who cleans in this HSK 4 conversation.
- 153 Spend the bonus or save it? A young man wants to spend his first bonus on a discounted camera, but his older sister talks him into saving in this HSK 4 conversation.
- 154 Nervous before the speech contest A foreign student wants to drop out of a Chinese speech contest because of stage fright, and his teacher offers a plan, in this HSK 4 conversation.
- 155 Grandpa forgot his password A grandfather is locked out of his phone and his grandson works out what went wrong with the password in this HSK 4 conversation.
- 156 News: Old street goes car-free at weekends A busy old shopping street in the city centre bans cars at weekends, pleasing snack sellers but worrying a furniture shop, in this HSK 4 news item.
- 157 News: Grandmothers teach paper-cutting to children A 76-year-old woman starts a free paper-cutting class after her grandson calls the art boring, and forty children now come every week, in this HSK 4 news item.
- 158 News: Whole town watches the Mid-Autumn moon from the old bridge Young people in a small town invite neighbours to watch the Mid-Autumn moon together on an old stone bridge, and 800 people turn up, in this HSK 4 news item.
- 159 News: Warm autumn keeps the mountain leaves green A forest park has to postpone its Red Leaf Festival because an unusually warm autumn has kept the leaves green, in this HSK 4 news item.
- 160 News: Lunchtime badminton for office workers sells out in a day A sports hall offers office workers an hour of badminton at lunchtime for ten yuan and all 300 places are gone within a day, in this HSK 4 news item.
- 161 Overtime or a life? Two colleagues talk about constant overtime, health and how to balance work and life in this HSK 5 conversation.
- 162 Should we move to the suburbs? A couple weighs the pros and cons of leaving the crowded city centre for a new suburban district in this HSK 5 conversation about city development.
- 163 Sorting the rubbish A grandmother and her granddaughter argue, then agree, about the new waste-sorting rules in their neighbourhood in this HSK 5 conversation.
- 164 A weekend without phones A father and his teenage son negotiate a phone-free weekend after a heated exchange about screen time in this HSK 5 conversation about technology in daily life.
- 165 At the calligraphy exhibition A Chinese student takes her Canadian friend to a calligraphy exhibition and explains why the art still matters today in this HSK 5 conversation about culture.
- 166 News: Riverside park replaces old factory A disused textile factory by the river has been turned into a public park with a running track and cultural centre, reported in formal news style at HSK 5.
- 167 News: Software firm tests four-day week A local software company reports the results of a six-month four-day-week trial on productivity, health and staff turnover in this HSK 5 news item about work-life balance.
- 168 News: Village revives handmade paper craft Young people returning to a mountain village have brought a 600-year-old papermaking tradition back to life, reported in formal HSK 5 news style.
- 169 News: Smart bins cut neighbourhood waste A pilot with smart recycling bins that reward residents with points has cut mixed waste by forty percent in one district, reported at HSK 5 in formal news style.
- 170 News: Survey finds young adults sleep too little A university survey of 5,000 young adults links late-night phone use to poor sleep and suggests practical remedies, reported in formal HSK 5 news style.
- 171 How do I write my thesis? A final-year student asks a graduate how to choose a topic, build an outline and handle data for her thesis, in an HSK 5 conversation.
- 172 Should Grandma come to live with us? A couple discuss bringing a lonely widowed mother from the countryside to live with them in the city, in an HSK 5 conversation.
- 173 Planning a trip to Xi'an Anna asks her Chinese friend for tips on trains, hotels, local customs and safety before a week-long trip to Xi'an, in an HSK 5 conversation.
- 174 Training for a half marathon A beginner who has signed up for a half marathon gets advice on training, breathing, posture and diet from an experienced runner, in an HSK 5 conversation.
- 175 What should I do with my savings? An office worker asks an accountant friend about savings, shares, risk and saving for a mortgage down payment, in an HSK 5 conversation.
- 176 News: Traditional snack festival draws fifty thousand visitors A city's third traditional snack festival attracts huge crowds with handmade buns, tofu and nutrition talks, in an HSK 5 news report.
- 177 News: Neighbours trade hours of help in new community scheme A community launches a mutual-aid centre where residents earn hours by helping neighbours and exchange them later, in an HSK 5 news report.
- 178 News: Three-year study finds more bees in city parks An agricultural research institute reports that bee numbers in city parks rose by 18 per cent and explains why, in an HSK 5 news report.
- 179 News: School radio station wins provincial media prize A student-run school radio station wins first prize for its interview programme and will be aired on municipal radio, in an HSK 5 news report.
- 180 News: Old apartment blocks finally get lifts After months of negotiation between upper- and lower-floor residents, 1980s walk-up apartments are getting lifts, in an HSK 5 news report.
- 181 A secret dinner for Mum and Dad A sister and brother secretly plan a thirtieth-anniversary dinner for their parents and argue over who pays – an HSK 5 Chinese conversation about family.
- 182 The loan nobody mentioned Zhou Ya finally asks her friend Aming about the money he borrowed three months ago and learns the real reason he stayed silent – an HSK 5 Chinese conversation about friendship and trust.
- 183 Learning the guitar at forty-five Old Li wants to take up the guitar in middle age and his daughter talks him through his doubts about stiff fingers, noisy neighbours and cost – an HSK 5 Chinese conversation about hobbies.
- 184 The coat was the wrong colour Wang Fang calls customer service about a coat that arrived grey instead of navy and negotiates a return, an exchange and a discount voucher – an HSK 5 Chinese conversation about online shopping.
- 185 Taking turns behind the wheel Two colleagues discover they are neighbours and agree on the rules for sharing the drive to work – an HSK 5 Chinese conversation about transport and commuting.
- 186 News: Thirty restaurants launch half-portion menus Thirty city restaurants start selling half portions to cut food waste, and early results surprise the owners – an HSK 5 Chinese news report about food and dining.
- 187 News: Dawn tai chi classes help residents sleep better A community health centre's free six-a.m. tai chi classes are shortening the time insomniac older residents take to fall asleep – an HSK 5 Chinese news report about health.
- 188 News: New weekend train links city with island county A direct weekend train over a new sea bridge replaces the old coach-and-ferry trip to Haiyue County, and tourism is expected to double – an HSK 5 Chinese news report about travel.
- 189 News: Thick fog grounds morning flights, trains run as usual The densest fog of the autumn delays forty flights and closes motorways while the metro and high-speed trains keep running – an HSK 5 Chinese news report about weather.
- 190 News: Design firm lets staff bring pets to work on Fridays A 120-person design company trials 'Pet Friday' with strict rules, happier staff and one cat that deleted a document – an HSK 5 Chinese news report about work.
- 191 A stray cat on the balcony A thin grey cat keeps turning up on a couple's balcony and they must decide whether to take it in — an HSK 5 conversation about pets and responsibility.
- 192 Water dripping from the ceiling Late one evening Li Na finds water dripping into her rented bedroom and knocks on her upstairs neighbour's door — an HSK 5 conversation about damage, deposits and insurance.
- 193 Should I switch to literature? A second-year accounting student tells his uncle he wants to change to literature, and the uncle suggests a careful way to test the dream — an HSK 5 conversation.
- 194 An injured wrist before the final Four days before the table-tennis final, Xiao Mei admits her wrist is hurt and her coach must decide whether she plays — an HSK 5 conversation about sport and health.
- 195 Grandpa's suspicious text message Grandpa is about to pay a two-yuan 'delivery fee' through a text-message link when his granddaughter spots a scam — an HSK 5 conversation about phones and online safety.
- 196 News: Empty bus depot becomes weekend farmers' market A bus garage that stood empty for three years reopens as a weekend market where farmers sell directly to city residents — an HSK 5 news report.
- 197 News: Art students turn a bridge legend into animation A twelve-minute animated film about a centuries-old local legend, made by art students, fills the city museum at its first screening — an HSK 5 news report.
- 198 News: Mountain school switches to solar power A primary school in a mountain town replaces coal heating with three hundred solar panels, saving money and cleaning the air — an HSK 5 news report.
- 199 News: Town marks Double Ninth with a hike for its elders On the Double Ninth Festival, more than three hundred seniors climb a mountain with their families and volunteers in a town event that is set to become a tradition — an HSK 5 news report.
- 200 News: Red leaves arrive two weeks early in city valley An early cold snap turns the leaves of Red Leaf Valley two weeks ahead of schedule, drawing crowds, traffic and a plea to protect the trees — an HSK 5 news report.
- 201 Quitting a stable job to start a business Zhou Yan tells her old friend she is leaving a secure company job to open a design studio, and he challenges her plan – an HSK 6 conversation about career choices.
- 202 Staying in the big city or moving back home Two flatmates debate whether the opportunities of a megacity are worth the rent, the commute and the loneliness – an HSK 6 conversation about urban life.
- 203 A doctor explains a sleep study A patient who has been sleeping badly for months asks a sleep specialist what the research actually says about screens, caffeine and sleeping pills – an HSK 6 conversation about health.
- 204 Arguing about modern art at the museum In front of an installation made of discarded plastic, a sceptical engineer and his art-student cousin argue about what makes something art – an HSK 6 conversation about the arts.
- 205 Persuading a neighbour to sort the recycling A volunteer at the community recycling point deals with an impatient neighbour who thinks sorting waste is pointless – an HSK 6 conversation about the environment.
- 206 News: A city trials a four-day week for public employees A mid-sized city reports the results of a six-month four-day-week pilot in three government departments – an HSK 6 news item on work and productivity.
- 207 News: Study links neighbourhood greenery to lower blood pressure A ten-year study of 60,000 city residents finds that people living near parks have measurably lower blood pressure – an HSK 6 news item on health research.
- 208 News: Independent bookshops make a quiet comeback Against expectations, the number of independent bookshops in one province has risen for three years running by reinventing themselves as cultural spaces – an HSK 6 news item on the arts and consumer trends.
- 209 News: Second-hand market booms as young consumers tighten their belts A consumer report finds trade in used goods up by a third in a year, driven by young people who call it 'rational consumption' rather than thrift – an HSK 6 news item on the economy.
- 210 News: River otters return to a city waterway after forty years Camera traps confirm a family of otters living in a once heavily polluted urban river, the result of two decades of clean-up – an HSK 6 news item on the environment.
- 211 Preparing for the thesis defense A professor gives a graduate student frank advice on revising her thesis and facing the defense committee, in formal HSK 6 Chinese.
- 212 Should Mum move in with us? A married couple weigh how best to care for an ageing mother who lives alone in her hometown, in natural HSK 6 Chinese.
- 213 Planning a canyon trek Two friends plan a high-altitude hiking trip with a local guide, discussing altitude, gear and safety in HSK 6 Chinese.
- 214 Editing the night market feature A newspaper editor and a young reporter polish a feature story about an old-town night market, covering headlines, sourcing and ethics in HSK 6 Chinese.
- 215 Growing a ceramics studio A small-business owner and a financial consultant discuss costs, off-season risk, loans and a trademark offer in formal HSK 6 Chinese.
- 216 News: Smart buses begin trial run A city puts its first buses with intelligent navigation into trial service, cutting delays by nearly forty percent, reported in HSK 6 Chinese.
- 217 News: Fossils reveal an ancient lake Geologists find fish fossils proving that an arid basin was once a vast lake, in a science report written in HSK 6 Chinese.
- 218 News: Community launches a 'time bank' An ageing neighbourhood starts a 'time bank' where residents swap volunteer hours for future help, reported in HSK 6 Chinese.
- 219 News: Record turnout at city marathon Over twenty thousand runners take part in a city's tenth international marathon, with a new course record and a dramatic women's finish, in HSK 6 Chinese.
- 220 News: Restored ancient city wall reopens A six-hundred-year-old city wall reopens after a three-year restoration, with newly unearthed relics on display, reported in HSK 6 Chinese.
- 221 Twenty Tables or a Courtyard Dinner? A brother and sister disagree about how grand their grandfather's eightieth birthday should be and settle on a gift money can't buy – an HSK 6 Chinese conversation about family.
- 222 Why Did You Stop Answering? Lin Yue finally confronts a friend who has avoided her for two months and discovers the real reason is an unpaid loan and a lost job – an HSK 6 Chinese conversation about friendship.
- 223 Thirty Radios and Nowhere to Hang the Washing A retired radio-factory worker's collection of old radios has taken over the balcony until a community exhibition offers a way out – an HSK 6 Chinese conversation about hobbies.
- 224 The Down Jacket That Wasn't A customer who needs a thick down jacket for a trip to Harbin receives a thin, badly stitched one and negotiates a fast replacement and compensation – an HSK 6 Chinese conversation about shopping.
- 225 The Report With the Wrong Numbers A new employee discovers he sent a client a report with outdated profit figures and a senior colleague talks him out of covering it up – an HSK 6 Chinese conversation about work.
- 226 News: Century-Old Noodle Shop Reopens Under Third Generation A 103-year-old noodle shop closed for two years reopens after the founder's grandson leaves a finance job to learn the family craft – an HSK 6 Chinese news report about food.
- 227 News: A Third of Pupils Short-Sighted, Schools Add Daily Outdoor Hour Eyesight screening at forty primary schools finds nearly one in three pupils short-sighted, prompting a compulsory hour outdoors every day – an HSK 6 Chinese news report about health.
- 228 News: City's First River Tunnel Opens, Cutting Crossing Time by Half After more than three years of construction, a 3.2-kilometre tunnel under the river opens to traffic and immediately eases the rush-hour jams on the two old bridges – an HSK 6 Chinese news report about transport.
- 229 News: Remote Mountain Village Welcomes Its First Homestay Guests A once inaccessible village at 1,600 metres converts twelve old houses into guesthouses and caps visitor numbers to protect its way of life – an HSK 6 Chinese news report about travel.
- 230 News: Rare Hailstorm Batters Pear Orchards Days Before Harvest A twenty-minute hailstorm, the fiercest in twenty years, knocks down nearly half the fruit in some orchards, and insurers and supermarkets step in to help growers – an HSK 6 Chinese news report about weather.
- 231 Can We Keep the Shelter Dog? After volunteering at an animal shelter, Li Na wants to bring a dog home, but her husband worries about the lease, the cost and the lonely hours — an HSK 6 conversation.
- 232 Finance or Archaeology? A top finance student tells his advisor he wants to switch to archaeology, and together they weigh passion against prospects before finding a middle way — an HSK 6 conversation.
- 233 Drilling While I Sleep A night-shift nurse cannot sleep through the renovation upstairs and asks the property manager to broker a compromise with the builders — an HSK 6 conversation.
- 234 A Shot at the Provincial Team A swimming coach wants to send an eleven-year-old to the provincial team trials, and her cautious mother must weigh talent against school and childhood — an HSK 6 conversation.
- 235 Whose Family for Spring Festival? A young couple far from both hometowns must decide where to spend Spring Festival, and end up inviting both sets of parents to their own small flat — an HSK 6 conversation.
- 236 News: Disused tram depot reborn as weekend creative market A tram depot idle for twenty years reopens as a craft market with sixty stalls, drawing 12,000 visitors on day one and a parking headache for neighbours — HSK 6 news.
- 237 News: Eighty-two-year-old embroiderer opens free workshop to save her craft An elderly master of two-sided embroidery takes on sixteen apprentices for free so a vanishing local craft can survive her — HSK 6 news.
- 238 News: Supermarket chain trials packaging-free refill corners Three supermarkets let shoppers fill their own jars with rice and detergent to cut forty tonnes of plastic a year, with praise and some hygiene worries — HSK 6 news.
- 239 News: Survey team finds hidden cave with underground lake Geologists following a cold draught through a crack in a gorge wall discover a vast cave, a crystal-clear lake and pale eyeless creatures — HSK 6 news.
- 240 News: Orchard cuts water use by a third with satellite-guided irrigation A pear orchard pairs satellite data with two hundred soil sensors to water only the trees that need it, saving water and money despite one stormy setback — HSK 6 news.
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