Is The Chairman's Bao worth considering in 2026?

Yes, especially if you want a large library of short graded-news lessons, human-recorded audio, built-in reading tools, and access on the web or a mobile app. HSKStory is a better fit for editor-developed, multi-chapter fiction. Choose by reading format rather than treating either reader as a universal winner.

What is a suitable alternative to The Chairman's Bao?

HSKStory is a suitable alternative if you want editor-developed, multi-chapter fiction organized across HSK 1 through HSK 9. Du Chinese mixes shorter readings, courses, and stories. Mandarin Companion and Chinese Breeze publish book-length graded readers. Each option serves a different reading habit.

Do The Chairman's Bao and HSKStory use the same levels?

No. The Chairman's Bao currently displays Levels 1 through 6 and describes its lessons as aligned with HSK standards, but its current public pages do not provide a checked one-to-one mapping to a particular HSK syllabus version. HSKStory organizes fiction across the nine HSK 3.0 levels.

Can you try The Chairman's Bao and HSKStory before paying?

Yes. The Chairman's Bao provides sample lessons. HSKStory has a three-story free allowance, and you can finish the first story without signup, although continuing may require a free account. Check each product's current access page because free allowances can change.

Chairman's Bao Review 2026: Graded News vs Graded Fiction

Chairman's Bao review at a glance

Choose The Chairman's Bao if you want graded Chinese news, short topical reading sessions, human-recorded lesson audio, native mobile apps, or classroom tools.

Choose HSKStory if you want editor-developed fiction with plots that continue across chapters, an explicit HSK 1-9 path, synchronized playback, and saved-word study.

Choose by the kind of session you are more likely to repeat: a fresh news lesson or the next chapter of a story.

How this comparison was checked

HSKStory publishes this comparison. We checked The Chairman's Bao's official homepage, plans, FAQ, classroom page, mixed-level classroom guide, and About page in August 2026.

Catalogs, sample access, app features, and subscription terms can change. This guide therefore avoids copied prices and treats the official product pages as the current source.

The Chairman's Bao and HSKStory compared

Feature	The Chairman's Bao	HSKStory
Reading format	Standalone graded news lessons	Editor-developed, multi-chapter fiction
Documented levels	Levels 1-6; described as aligned with HSK standards	HSK 1-9 using HSK 3.0 vocabulary levels
Audio	Human-recorded audio for each article	Synchronized Mandarin chapter audio reviewed for pronunciation, pacing, and synchronization
Reading tools	Live dictionary, grammar notes, flashcards, exercises, pinyin, and stroke order	Pinyin controls; word tap for pinyin, definitions, and HSK information; progress; saved-word FSRS study
Scripts	Simplified and Traditional Chinese	Simplified and Traditional Chinese
Free access	Sample lessons	Three-story allowance; first story without signup; account may be requested later
Platforms	Web, iOS, and Android	Browser reader built for phones and computers

The level labels are not directly interchangeable. The Chairman's Bao labels its filter by HSK level and displays Levels 1 through 6, but its current public pages do not name which HSK syllabus version each level follows. HSKStory uses the nine HSK 3.0 levels for its fiction.

The Chairman's Bao reading experience

The Chairman's Bao has published graded, news-based Chinese lessons since 2015. Its homepage currently lists more than 10,000 lessons and presents Levels 1 through 6. Its About page separately describes the lessons as suitable from beginner to post-advanced. That proficiency description does not establish an HSK 7-9 mapping. Topics change with the news, so you can move between business, sport, culture, society, and other current subjects without committing to a long text.

Each article has human-recorded audio paced for its target level. The reader also has a live dictionary, grammar explanations, keywords, flashcards, reading and listening exercises, pinyin controls, and stroke-order practice. You can switch between Simplified and Traditional Chinese.

The service works on the web and through iOS and Android apps. Its classroom packages add teacher and student management, assignments, reporting, downloadable lesson material, and integrations with Canvas and Google Classroom. That makes it useful for both independent study and structured courses.

This format suits a learner who wants a complete topic in one sitting. Read an article, check unfamiliar words, listen again, and move to something new next time.

The HSKStory reading experience

HSKStory focuses on graded fiction. Editors develop, closely edit, and approve every story. The stories continue across chapters, so readers spend longer with the same plot, setting, and characters instead of changing topic after each lesson.

The library is organized across HSK 1 through HSK 9 using the HSK 3.0 vocabulary levels. The reader supports Simplified and Traditional Chinese, pinyin controls, and word tap for pinyin, definitions, and HSK information. Saved words move into FSRS flashcard study, while progress stays attached to the story.

Every chapter has Mandarin audio reviewed for pronunciation, pacing, and synchronization. Word highlighting follows playback, which helps you keep your place while listening and reading together.

You can finish the first story without creating an account. The free allowance covers three stories, although continuing may require a free account. Full library access requires a membership.

Choose The Chairman's Bao if

You want short Chinese news lessons about current topics.
You prefer each reading session to stand on its own.
Human-recorded article audio and comprehension exercises matter to you.
You need native iOS or Android apps.
A teacher portal, assignments, or classroom reporting would be useful.

Choose HSKStory if

You want fiction with a plot that continues across chapters.
You want a reading path labeled from HSK 1 through HSK 9.
You use synchronized audio and word highlighting while reading.
You want unfamiliar words to move into FSRS flashcard review.
You prefer to begin a complete story in the browser without signup.

Can you use both?

Yes. Use The Chairman's Bao for a short session on a current topic. Use HSKStory when you want to stay with one plot for several chapters.

News-based lessons and sustained fiction ask you to read in different ways. If you want one subscription, choose the session you are more likely to repeat each week.

Start at your level

Sources checked

The Chairman's Bao product details were checked against these official sources in August 2026:

Bottom line

Open one sample from each reader. If ten minutes with a current topic feels natural, The Chairman's Bao fits that habit; check its current terms on the official plans page. If you want to continue into another chapter, start an HSKStory story at the level links above. HSKStory membership terms are on the pricing page.