Ever wondered where old Beijing's tea-drinking culture has gone? Follow a visitor discovering why locals now avoid famous tea houses—and practice expressing surprise and comparisons in Chinese along the way.
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我在 北京 游学。
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前天有个朋友告诉我，要想了解老 北京 的文化，应该去老茶馆喝一次"大碗儿茶"。
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我问一个老 北京 哪个茶馆儿最好。
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他说，现在喜欢去茶馆喝茶的老 北京 不很多了。
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很多老 北京 以前是有去茶馆儿喝茶的习惯的。
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老 北京 们去茶馆，就是因为想喝茶，也为了跟朋友说说话什么的。
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可现在的茶馆虽然还是可以喝茶，但是去那儿的人大多不是老 北京 。
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北京 有一个有名的老茶馆儿，叫“老舍茶馆”。
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现在去那儿的都是外地的，很少老 北京 。
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看着这，老 北京 们心里当然不舒服。
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他们常用 北京话 说：新鲜啊！
Chat about where friends study Chinese while exploring 哪儿 and 哪里 across Beijing and Shanghai. Practice asking “where”, talking about “here” and “there”, and using the modest reply 哪里哪里 to accept a compliment.
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大山：我在 北京 学汉语。
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北京人 喜欢说“哪儿”，上海人喜欢说“哪里”。
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北京人 说“哪儿”。
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那， 北京人 怎么说“here”和“there”？
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小米： 北京人 喜欢说“这儿”和“那儿”。
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北京人 也说“这里”和“那里”吗？
Meet Gao Youpeng, a friendly Beijing coworker who welcomes the narrator with local dishes and a simple language-exchange plan. This warm HSK 2 story is perfect for first readings about work and friendship.
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他叫高友朋，是一个 北京人 。
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他今天从上海回来，晚上就和我去了一个饭馆儿吃 北京菜 。
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高友朋说他是 老北京 。
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他说周六可以教我做几个 北京菜 。
Read about a work trip to Beijing where a group of colleagues takes a very large airplane. Practice weather words and actions in a simple travel story.
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上个星期，我们公司的六个人去 北京 开会。
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到 北京 的时候， 北京 正在下大雨。
Join a family on a sweltering Beijing Sunday as a boy learns a funny lesson about playing outside in the summer heat. Perfect for HSK 1 learners.
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现在是 北京 的七月，天气很热。
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我和我爱人在 北京 七月的下午两点，坐上车和儿子去学校。
Meet Xiao Shang, who is heading back to Shanghai. She compares two ways to travel and tells us why she prefers the slower one. This story helps you practice comparing transportation in simple Chinese.
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北京 到上海有飞机，也有火车。
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从 北京 到上海坐飞机，不到两个小时，但是要坐火车，就要最少五个多小时。
This short story follows a simple shopping trip in Beijing. You will learn words for buying a phone in Chinese.
Follow Xiao Li as he copes with the effects of forest fires near his home in the US and reflects on environmental changes. A thoughtful story for HSK 4 learners.
This heartwarming story reveals the quiet devotion of a father. As you read, notice the repeated actions and how a simple cup of tea becomes meaningful.
Is four years to reach HSK 5 fast or slow? Follow a conversation between two learners as they compare study hours and share realistic strategies for busy adults.
A young man helps an old man look for his cat. But the real surprise is why the old man wanted to find the cat. Read on to learn about kindness and friendship.
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老先生对白天明说：“我八十岁了，儿子和女儿都在 北京 工作，我一个人住在这里。
Read this short story about people waiting in the rain for a new phone. You will practice numbers, time, and everyday vocabulary.
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苹果商店外边人很多，一半儿是 北京大学 的大学生。
