| Resource | Category | Media Type | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| CCTV 1-17 + 亚欧美 | TV News | Visual | 20 CCTV channels all readily available for streaming; toggle between channels in the sidebar. |
| TAIWAN TTV NEWS (Live) 台視新聞台HD 24 小時線上直播 | TV News | Visual | TTV Main Channel is the primary free-to-air terrestrial television channel of the Taiwan Television company and is the first television channel launched in the Republic of China (Taiwan). |
| CCTV-4 Chinese Int'l Livestream 中文国际 | TV News | Visual | CCTV on YouTube (quicker to load). |
| Xinwen Lianbo Archive CCTV 新闻联播 | TV News | Visual | A collection of archived videos from the news program Xinwen Lianbo, which is produced by CCTV. |
| Phoenix TV Livestream 鳳凰衛視 | TV News | Visual | A mainland news alternative to CCTV. |
| Little Universe 小宇宙 | Content Platforms | Audio | First dedicated podcast platform. If you want to discover and listen to new Chinese podcasts, this is hands down the best app for it. Mobile only. |
| Weibo 微博 | Content Platforms | Social | Chinese Twitter. Mostly inaccessible without a Chinese phone number. |
| WeChat 微信 | Content Platforms | Social | China's messager + do-everything app. Mobile-first. |
| Xiaohongshu 小红书 | Content Platforms | Social | "Instagram for China." |
| TingBook 天方听书 | Content Platforms | Audio | Audiobook platform. |
| Ximilaya 西米啦呀 | Content Platforms | Audio | Most popular audio platform in China. |
| RTI (Radio Taiwan International) 中央廣播電台 | Podcasts & Radio | Audio | Reliably available Taiwanese radio station covering news, culture, and music. |
| BearTalk 狗熊有话说 | Podcasts & Radio | Audio | BearTalk 狗熊有话说 is an iTunes award-winning (the 2013 Editor's Choice of iTunes China) podcast started in 2012, covering tech insights, book reviews, and personal improvement tips. It has received positive reviews from Mandarin learners for its interesting topics and the host’s easygoing speaking style. |
| Shengdongjixi 声东击西 | Podcasts & Radio | Audio | "The world is vast, but people are limited by their daily routines and social media. Let us as journalists help you open unexpected windows, access different information, and inspire new thoughts. Here, we talk with all kinds of interesting professionals; occasionally, mysterious guests will appear." |
| Bumingbai 不明白播客 | Podcasts & Radio | Audio | This podcast is a personal project launched by several professional journalists. "The most interesting conversations in China are happening in private these days. The 'Don't Understand Podcast' hopes to share these interesting conversations with Chinese-speaking audiences around the world, bringing a bit of light and warmth to this dark and chaotic time." |
| Popup Chinese Podcast Archives | Podcasts & Radio | Audio | Despite being discontinued, Popup Chinese remains a great source of free, fun, and engaging Chinese language lessons. |
| Voice of America 美国之音 | Podcasts & Radio | Audio | "Voice of America Chinese is your source for reliable and accurate news about China, the United States and the World." |
| Gushi FM (Story FM) 故事FM | Podcasts & Radio | Audio | The NYTimes describes Gushi FM as taking inspiration from "This American Life" and WNYC's "Snap Judgement." Interesting, personal stories told in the first person by ordinary people in China. |
| BB Park 日坛公园 | Podcasts & Radio | Audio | 日谈公园 is a podcast hosted by two experienced entertainment industry professionals, Li Shu (Li Zhiming) and Xiao Hua (Feng Guangjian). They discuss popular movies, music, literature, animation, travel, food, fashion, and lifestyle and talk with celebrities and other guests. |
| Learn Taiwanese Mandarin | Podcasts & Radio | Audio | Learn Taiwanese Mandarin is a podcast aimed at intermediate to advanced learners. It’s all in Chinese (from the 4th episode). |
| IQ (IQiyi Global) | TV, Movies, & Streaming | Visual | IQiyi is one of China's biggest streaming platforms and has launched IQ.com as its international version. You can use IQ.com without worrying about getting this dreaded message: "视频因为版权原因无法播放." |
| Bili Bili | TV, Movies, & Streaming | Visual | China's platform for user-generated video content (similar to YouTube). Skewed toward a younger audience (teens to early 30's). Lots of zany videos and anime. |
| Criterion Channel | TV, Movies, & Streaming | Visual | A great subscription service for arthouse cinema, with a decent selection (~20) of Chinese movies. Click on "All Movies" and select a country filter, or just click the link provided. |
| MUBI | TV, Movies, & Streaming | Visual | An interesting new subscription service for independent movies, often by newer, rising directors. Click on "Browse" and select a country filter, or just click the link provided. |
| YouTube | TV, Movies, & Streaming | Visual | YouTube has lots of great (and not-so-great) Chinese language channels and content. Here are a few channels we recommend: Rock and Roast 脱口秀大会， Today on Wall Street 今日华尔街, Chef Wang Gang International 美食作家王刚 (he also has a @chefwang channel if you prefer to have only Chinese subtitles). |
| Tencent Video | TV, Movies, & Streaming | Visual | A top streaming platform in China, offering a broad range of domestic and international content. Tencent Video has a strong focus on offering licensed content and has exclusive deals with major studios such as HBO and Warner Bros. |
| iQiyi TV | TV, Movies, & Streaming | Visual | Offers a broad range of content, including movies, TV dramas, and variety shows. iQiyi TV is known for producing its own original content, including some popular dramas and reality shows. Sometimes called "China's Netflix." Owned by Baidu and a major competitor to Tencent Video. |
| 芒果 TV | TV, Movies, & Streaming | Visual | Primarily focuses on domestic TV shows and movies and is owned by Hunan Broadcasting System. Has a strong emphasis on reality shows and variety programming, and it is known for producing some of the most popular Chinese TV shows. |
| Youku TV | TV, Movies, & Streaming | Visual | Primarily focuses on domestic TV shows and movies, and it is owned by Alibaba Group. Youku TV has a strong emphasis on user-generated content and has also produced some popular original shows. |
| Letv | TV, Movies, & Streaming | Visual | A streaming platform that offers a wide range of content, including movies, TV dramas, and variety shows. It also produces its own original content and is known for offering some exclusive deals with major studios. |
| CCTV Shows & Documentaries | TV, Movies, & Streaming | Visual | A hub for watching the latest TV shows on CCTV. Some content (e.g., original series not produced by CCTV) will not be available to watch, so try clicking a couple different series if the first one doesn't work. |
| A Bite of China 《舌尖上的中国》第一季 | Documentary | Visual | Visually absorbing, narrated series on Chinese cuisine, immersing the viewer in food's journey from being grown or caught, through processing, preparation, onto ultimately being enjoyed by people. A classic that stands the test of time. |
| 《中苏外交档案解密》 | Documentary | Visual | CCTV documentary series delving into the relationship between China and the Soviet Union. |
| Planet Earth 地球脉动 | Documentary | Visual | The full first season of Planet Earth with Chinese narration and subtitles. |
| The Rise of the Great Powers 大国崛起 | Documentary | Visual | A Chinese documentary series that explores the history of the rise of great powers, including the United States, China, Japan, Germany, and Russia. It examines how these nations gained their power and influence through various means such as economic development, military strength, political influence, and cultural impact. |
| Wild China 美丽中国 | Documentary | Visual | A BBC documentary series that explores the diverse natural beauty and wildlife of China. The series covers various regions of China, including the Himalayas, the tropical forests of Yunnan, and the deserts of Xinjiang. |
| italki | Learning Tools | Social | iTalki is an online language learning platform that connects learners with language teachers for personalized lessons in a wide variety of languages. It offers a convenient and affordable way to learn a new language from the comfort of your own home. |
| ChatGPT | Learning Tools | AI / Translation | Best AI translation tool available, but interface only allows translation of a couple paragraphs at a time. |
| DeepL | Learning Tools | AI / Translation | AI translation tool; better translations than Google Translate for Chinese, and can do larger blocks of text than ChatGPT. |
| ChinesePod | Learning Tools | Learning Platform | Online platform that provides audio and video lessons for learning Mandarin Chinese. It offers a wide range of topics and difficulty levels to cater to learners of all levels. |
| FluentU | Learning Tools | Learning Platform | Language learning platform that offers language immersion through interactive videos and personalized lessons. |
| HanziCraft | Learning Tools | Website / App | Website providing tools and resources for learning Mandarin Chinese characters. It offers a comprehensive database of characters, stroke order animations, and a range of exercises to help learners improve their Chinese reading and writing skills. |
| DuoLingo | Learning Tools | Learning Platform | Duolingo is a free language learning platform that offers courses in over 40 languages, utilizing gamification and adaptive learning techniques. It provides learners with engaging exercises that help build their vocabulary, grammar, listening, and speaking skills. |
| HSK | Learning Tools | Website / App | The HSK website is the official platform for the HSK Chinese language proficiency test. It provides information about the test structure, registration process, test dates, and study resources for learners of Chinese as a foreign language. |
| Praat | Learning Tools | Website / App | Provides a software tool for analyzing and practicing pronunciation of Chinese sounds. Chinese language learners can use Praat to record and analyze their own pronunciation, compare it with native speakers, and get feedback on their pronunciation accuracy, rhythm, and intonation. |
| The Washington Chinese Language Meetup Group | Learning Tools | Social | A meetup for people who are interested in learning/teaching/sharing Chinese language and culture. |
| HiNative | Learning Tools | Website / App | HiNative is a language learning platform that connects language learners with native speakers for language exchange, questions, and feedback. |
| Lang-8 | Learning Tools | Website / App | Lang-8 is a language learning platform that connects language learners with native speakers for language exchange and writing correction. |
| Anki | Learning Tools | Website / App | For more information on setting up flashcard sets or adding words, check out the Anki User Manual |
| Skritter | Learning Tools | Website / App | Skritter is a language learning platform that helps users learn Chinese characters and vocabulary through interactive writing exercises and flashcards. |
| Mandarin Spot | Learning Tools | Website / App | MandarinSpot offers the best reading annotation tool for Chinese text, allowing you to annotate with pinyin and view definitions and pronunciations on the same page, saving you the frustration of looking up words in a dictionary. |
| Gengo | Learning Tools | Translation | Gengo is a translation platform that connects advanced Chinese language speakers with businesses and individuals needing translation services, allowing them to make money on the side by practicing their translation skills. |
| Paper Republic | Learning Tools | Translation | Promotes Chinese literature in English translation, and focuses on new writing from contemporary Chinese writers. |
| Pleco | Learning Tools | Dictionary | Pleco is a very popular Chinese-English dictionary app that provides a range of features, including character recognition, example sentences, and audio pronunciations. |
| LINE Dictionary | Learning Tools | Dictionary | Line Dictionary is a free online dictionary that offers Chinese language learners a wide range of features, including example sentences, audio pronunciations, and handwriting recognition. |
| MDBG | Learning Tools | Dictionary | MDBG is an online Chinese-English dictionary that offers a range of features, including character recognition, example sentences, and audio pronunciations. |
| Yellowbridge | Learning Tools | Dictionary | YellowBridge is an online Chinese-English dictionary that offers a range of features, including character stroke order animations, example sentences, and audio pronunciations. |
| iCIBA | Learning Tools | Dictionary | iCIBA is a free online dictionary that provides Chinese language learners with a range of features, including example sentences, audio pronunciations, and translations in multiple languages. |
| Classical Chinese Dictionary | Learning Tools | Dictionary | Classical Chinese Dictionary is an online dictionary that focuses on classical Chinese language and literature, providing Chinese language learners with a range of features, including historical context, references, and explanations of classical texts. |
| Dict.cn 海词 | Learning Tools | Dictionary | Dict.cn, also known as HaiCi, is a free online Chinese-English dictionary that offers a range of features, including character recognition, example sentences, and audio pronunciations. |
| Youdao 有道 | Learning Tools | Dictionary | Youdao is a free online Chinese-English dictionary that provides a range of features, including example sentences, audio pronunciations, and translations in multiple languages. |
| Hanping Chinese Dictionary Pro | Learning Tools | Dictionary | Hanping Chinese Dictionary Pro is a paid app that offers a range of features, including character recognition, example sentences, audio pronunciations, and flashcards to help Chinese language learners improve their vocabulary and reading skills. |
| Chinese Text Project | Learning Tools | Website / App | For those interested in classical Chinese, the Chinese Text Project has thousands of passages available for free, with most containing English translations, definitions of words appearing in the text, and annotations in Chinese. |
| Chinese Grammar Wiki | Learning Tools | Website / App | A great resource for reviewing Chinese grammar anytime you are struggling to understand a particular sentence structure or pattern. |
| Zhongwen Chinese-English Dictionary Chrome Extension | Learning Tools | Website / App | A Chrome extension pop-up dictionary for looking up Chinese on any website while you're reading. Simply install and activate the extension, and hover over Chinese text on any webpage to see the definition. Includes links to Chinese Grammar Wiki. Supports adding words to Skritter. |
| Slow Chinese | Text / Reading | Learning Platform | Slow Chinese 每周漫闻 is a resource which helps advanced learners of Mandarin stay on top of the latest language trends. It includes a free weekly newsletter and more premium content for paid members. |
| Sinocism | Text / Reading | Newsletter | Sinocism collects the most important articles and news stories each day on current issues and public policy in China. Many of the articles sent out are written in Chinese, so you can practice reading Chinese while keeping up to date on current issues. |
| Hacking Chinese | Text / Reading | Newsletter | Hacking Chinese is a great blog/website that has articles about learning Chinese. The author primarily writes about HOW to learn Chinese as opposed to WHAT to learn. |
| David Cowhig’s Translation Blog | Text / Reading | Website / App | This particular post (and the entire site) is a treasure trove of ideas and resources for learning, maintaining, and expanding your Chinese language abilities. It is relevant for everyone from the intermediate student looking to become more conversational to the advanced student of Chinese interested in developing abilities as a a scholar of China. |
| Initium Media | Text / Reading | News Media | Initium Media 端傳媒 is a Singapore-based digital media outlet launched in August 2015. It mainly provides in-depths news, opinions and lifestyle content to Chinese-speaking readers worldwide with the aim of staking out neutral terrain among Chinese readers in Hong Kong, Taiwan, mainland China, and abroad. |
| Caixin 财新 | Text / Reading | News Media | Caixin is a reputable Chinese news outlet known for its in-depth journalism and coverage of economic, political, and social issues. |
| Caijing 财经 | Text / Reading | News Media | Caijing is a prominent financial magazine in China that offers comprehensive analysis of economic trends, finance, and investment opportunities. |
| Xinhua 新华社 | Text / Reading | News Media | Xinhua is China's official state-run news agency, providing authoritative and wide-ranging news coverage on domestic and international affairs. |
| People’s Daily 人民日报 | Text / Reading | News Media | People's Daily is the official newspaper of the Chinese Communist Party, offering insights into the Party's policies and viewpoints. |
| Southern Weekly 南方周末 | Text / Reading | News Media | Southern Weekly is a respected Chinese newspaper known for its investigative journalism and critical reporting on social, political, and cultural issues. |
| BBC 中文 | Text / Reading | News Media | The Chinese-language service of the British Broadcasting Corporation, providing comprehensive news coverage of global events. |
| Financial Times | Text / Reading | News Media | The Chinese-language edition of the Financial Times, offering insightful analysis on global financial, economic, and political issues |
| Wall Street Journal | Text / Reading | News Media | The Chinese-language edition of the Wall Street Journal, offering in-depth analysis on business, finance, and global affairs. |
| New York Times | Text / Reading | News Media | The Chinese-language edition of The New York Times, providing comprehensive coverage of global news, politics, and culture。 |
| Jandan 煎蛋 | Text / Reading | News Media | Short sci & tech articles. |
| China Books 中国书店 | Reference / Library | Website / App | China International Book Trading Corporation (CIBTC) is a Chinese publisher that runs @ChinaBooksChina and an Amazon storefront of Chinese language books. |
| Duokan | Reference / Library | Website / App | Duokan.com is a platform offering many different genres of Chinese e-books. It is now also featuring a special section of books to celebrate the CCP’s 70th anniversary: 庆祝新中国成立70周年专题. |
| Douban | Reference / Library | Website / App | Douban is a website that offers reviews for books, movies, and music, and provides links for purchasing books from major Chinese online bookstores. |
| Kindle 中文电子书店 | Reference / Library | Website / App | Has many Chinese e-books available for download to your Kindle. |
| Purple Culture | Reference / Library | Website / App | A good resource for Chinese textbooks. |
| Chinese Language Subreddit | Reference / Library | Website / App | This is a community for people studying or teaching Chinese. Discussion of all Chinese languages/dialects is welcome. Members of this subreddit are invited to post interesting links, language learning advice, or questions. |
We are continually updating this list as resources come out or disappear. This is a long list, so to make it easier to explore, you can select the specific Categories or Media Types you'd like to view in the dropdowns.