The main options for graded Chinese reading, side by side: books, apps and free websites. We run one of them (this site), so it is listed first and marked; the rest are here because they are the ones learners actually ask about. Check each site for current prices.
| Reader | Format | How it is graded | Cost | What you get | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Read Mandarin | Website | HSK 1-6 | Free | Pinyin over every character, tap-to-translate, audio, quizzes | Short daily reading at an exact HSK level |
| Mandarin Companion | Books & ebooks | Own levels by character count (about 150 to 450 characters) | Paid | Full-length stories, many adapted from Western classics | Your first complete novel at HSK 2-4 |
| Chinese Breeze 汉语风 | Books | Eight levels by word count, from 300 words up | Paid | Original stories written for learners, Peking University Press | Longer original stories with a gentle word curve |
| Du Chinese | App & website | HSK 1-6 | Subscription, some free lessons | Pinyin toggle, audio, tap-to-translate | Mobile reading with audio on the go |
| The Chairman's Bao | App & website | HSK levels | Subscription | News articles rewritten by level | HSK 4 and up who want current events |
| HSK Reading | Website | HSK 1-6 | Free | Short passages with questions | Exam-style reading practice |
| Chinese Graded Reader | Website | HSK 1-4 | Free | Short stories with audio | Beginner stories |
Start with short graded texts where every character has pinyin, and read one a day. A full novel is too long at this stage; finishing matters more than length.
This is the right time for a first complete book. Character-count graded novels such as Mandarin Companion or Chinese Breeze work well alongside daily short readings.
Move toward real-world material: news rewritten by level, essays, and eventually native novels and newspapers. Graded readers get thin at the top end.
419 original graded readings: HSK 1: 69 · HSK 2: 99 · HSK 3: 94 · HSK 4: 55 · HSK 5: 51 · HSK 6: 51. Each has pinyin, audio, tap-to-translate and three comprehension questions. Compare the levels to find where to start.