Chinese Podcasts for Listening Practice
Find Chinese-learning podcasts organized by level, from beginner through advanced. These podcasts provide listening practice suited to your current ability and can help you gradually build comprehension.
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Total Resources: 32
All Levels
For Beginners to Advanced learners. This is primary a paid resource but they offer a free trial and plenty of freebies on their website.
Free & Paid Content
For Beginners to Advanced learners. This is primarily a paid resource but it offers plenty of free content on YouTube and other platforms. The episodes include culture, history, grammar and more. Until you reach the upper-intermediate level, most of the episodes are broken down in English.
Free & Paid Content
Learn Mandarin through stories told almost entirely in Chinese. Episodes range from beginner to advanced and use stories followed by explanations to introduce vocabulary, expressions, and grammar in context.
Free
Suitable for beginners to advanced. HSK level of each lesson is given. Offers both Simplified and Traditional Characters. Pinyin can be turned on or off.
Free
Beginner
Suitable for Beginners. The host, Mark, is learning Chinese himself from Crystal, the Chinese host. Lessons are about 30 minutes. Offers paid supplementary material.
Free
Dimsum offers 30 free podcast episodes for beginners. Episodes include vocabulary, grammar and dialogue. DimSum offers paid content as well.
30 Episodes Free / Paid Content
Suitable for beginners. Several free 20 minutes lessons are offered. Optional transcripts and worksheets are offered for a fee.
Free & Paid ContentIntermediate
This podcast is hosted by a group of Chinese journalists living in the US, offering insightful discussions on a wide range of topics. From current events and trends in the media industry to happenings in both the US and China, they cover it all. They also dive into the latest movies and dramas, providing a diverse mix of content. The hosts speak clearly, making it a fantastic resource for anyone looking to improve their Chinese listening skills and pronunciation while staying informed on global and cultural topics.
Free
Tune in to this engaging podcast where two Taiwanese girls chat about all things relationships! From tips on maintaining long-distance relationships to advice on choosing the right partner, they cover it all. In some episodes, they also dive into discussions about popular TV shows. Whether you're looking to improve your Chinese listening skills or simply enjoy fun, insightful conversations on relationships and more, this podcast is a great choice. With lively, back-and-forth dialogues, it's the perfect way to immerse yourself in real, relatable conversations in Chinese.
Free
A great choice for intermediate and advanced learners ready for more natural Mandarin. Episodes cover Chinese culture, society, everyday life, and current topics while keeping the language accessible to learners.
Himalaya Podcast is an incredibly valuable app for anyone learning Chinese. Designed specifically for Chinese speakers, Himalaya offers a vast selection of native-level Chinese podcasts. With content covering topics like business, leadership, self-development, sports, health, and exercise, this app provides an immersive experience ideal for improving language skills. Many users consider it one of the most impactful tools for accelerating Chinese learning, with daily access to high-quality, authentic input.
Paid / Free Trial
This 59 episode podcast is suitable for intermediate learners. Although its no longer in production, it is still valuable for those who want to make sure their understanding of sentences is correct. To accomplish this, she speaks slower than her natural pace and often translates as she is speaking.
FreeThe first 60 episodes of the intermediate level podcase are free. Although she rarely teaches you about Chinese speaking, she designed the pocast to provides valuable listening practice for language learners on a variety of topics.
Free / Paid from Episode 61 Onward
Each 30 minute episode is suitable intermediate learners who want to speak in a Taiwanese accent. Learn new words, culture and even a few Hokkien words along the way.
Free
Suitable for intermediate to advanced learners. This Chinese site offers various podcasts, both online and via their mobile app.
Free
If you are Intermediate level but aren't ready for a Chinese only podcast, this show is for you. Hosts Tom & Ula are an English and Taiwanese coupon who bring fun to learning Mandarin with their Chinglish podcast. Each episode is about an hour long and covers whatever topic they have chosen for the day.
Free
Designed for intermediate learners, this podcast features clear, natural Mandarin at an approachable pace. Episodes cover everyday life, Chinese culture, and practical topics, helping learners transition toward native-level listening.
Free
For intermediate learner who want bit-sized lessons. Each episode is about 2 minutes, if that. Best of all, she offers free transcripts and translations of the podcast here: Melon Chinese Listen Notes
Free
Hosted by two women from China, this podcast covers topics like life experiences, relationships, and personal growth. Their discussions feel like a phone call between friends. It’s a great way to learn how native Chinese speakers naturally chat, both on the phone and in everyday conversation. Plus, each episode has an English title, so you can easily pick ones that interest you.
Free
Suitable for intermediate to advanced learners. This is a cultural podcast. Personal narratives by native Chinese people are read in Mandarin at a slow speed (2~3 characters per second). Topics vary from language, knowledge, tradition and culture to opinions on social phenomena. This pod cast is no longer in production, but its archive contains plenty to explore.
Free
It has just 24 episodes, but it's a fantastic listening resource you can enjoy wherever you have your phone. I love that it includes a mix of news, articles, and stories. Perfect for learners at HSK 3 level or higher, and it's connected to the YouTube channel Chinese with Mei.
Free
Suitable for Intermediate learners. In DaPeng's “Daily Chinese Expression” series, he often provides multiple examples of how to use key expressions in context. He also exercises his acting chops by performing dialogues himself, acting as multiple characters. You can read along with the audio on his YouTube Channel
Free
Suitable for Intermediate learners. Abby offers Chinese-Only episodes wherein talks about a variety of topics, explores Taiwanese culture and interviews other Chinese teachers.
Free
Suitable for confident Intermediate learners who want to improve their ability to understand words at a faster pace. Topics include culture and more general topics such as motivation.
Free
A popular podcast for intermediate learners featuring short episodes in slow, clear Mandarin. Topics cover everyday life, Chinese culture, and other interesting subjects, making it a great bridge between beginner materials and native-level content.
Free
Ximalaya FM is a Chinese podcasting platform with its headquarters in Pudong, Shanghai. It is the largest podcast and audio content platform in China with over 600 million users in China, 50 million overseas users, and 10 million content creators.
FreeAdvanced
Advanced Level. Culture Potato invites its guests to discuss art in all its forms — screen or stage, books or museums, or through discussions about history. Each episode confronts you with differing perspectives and highlights the contrast between Western and Chinese culture.
Free
Three Chinese teachers chat about everyday life, culture, society, and other interesting topics entirely in Mandarin. The natural, conversational format makes it especially useful for intermediate and advanced learners preparing for native-level listening.
Free
This Taiwanese-hosted podcast features interviews with experts across a wide range of fields, including artists, singers, politicians, and CEOs. The conversations delve into both their professional journeys and personal stories, offering a unique and insightful perspective on their work and experiences. While the content is rich and informative, it is best suited for advanced learners due to its broad vocabulary and diverse topics. If you're looking to expand your Chinese vocabulary in areas such as business, culture, and beyond, this podcast is an excellent choice for improving your conversational skills and engaging in discussions on a variety of subjects.
Free
Advanded level. Although no longer in production, you can still enjoy all four seasons of this immersive Mandarin podcast that explores American pop culture. The hosts and their guests reflect on social and political issues involved in American film, TV and documentaries. This series will definitely expand your vocabulary.
Free
Story FM, hosted by story collector Kòu Àizhé 寇爱哲, invites guests from all walks of life in China to share their stories in 40-minute episodes. With over 750 episodes, it offers a rich resource for real, unscripted language on engaging and challenging topics. Though some accents can be tricky for learners, the show's polished production makes it accessible and immersive.
Free