How Readable Are Our Books?

Most of our books are “graded readers,” written with limited vocabulary and simpler grammar structure, and are meant to be read and enjoyed by people learning Chinese as a second language.  They vary quite a bit in readability.

Here is a list of all our graded readers, showing the overall readability score, which we call the CRLI (Chinese Reading Level Index), as well as advice as to how easy or hard it will be for you to read that book, depending on your Chinese reading proficiency. You can learn more about our CRLI rating system by reading our white paper.

Select one of the tabs below to learn more about the readability of our books.

For each of our graded readers, you can see the CRLI Score (last column), the book’s total vocabulary, total length in characters, total number of “novel” characters not found in HSK 1-9, and the book’s average HSK level. You can sort by any column.

Title Vocabulary Length
(in Characters)
Words Not
in HSK 1-9
HSK Level CRLI Score
Mulan, Femme Guerrière (木兰女战士) 2651,99412.511
The Qing Dynasty: The Last Emperors 1,08911,38813.345
The Han Dynasty: Foundation of Chinese Civilization 91214,98202.830
The Ming Dynasty: Restoration and Expansion 99411,21722.937
The Song Dynasty: The Age of Innovation 91713,04313.441
The Tang Dynasty: The Golden Age 98412,93133.043
The Qin Dynasty: Birth of the Empire 92111,55183.344
The Yuan Dynasty: China Under Foreign Rule 96113,44603.240
Confucius the Sage (孔子) – Heroes of Ancient China, Book 7 96212,79053.041
Sun Tzu the Strategist (孙子) – Heroes of Ancient China, Book 5 7668,79013.332
Chang’e (嫦娥) – Heroes of Ancient China, Book 2 7829,94043.035
Hou Yi the Archer (后羿) – Heroes of Ancient China, Book 6 6358,82703.026
Yu the Great (大禹) – Heroes of Ancient China, Book 3 7148,79703.129
Nüwa the Creator (女娲) – Heroes of Ancient China, Book 4 58912,19712.817
Chengyu! (成语!) 93712,237103.040
Nezha (哪吒) – Heroes of Ancient China, Book 1 5187,88022.415
Sun Wukong: The Journey to the West (in English) 7668,79013.332
Learn to Read Chinese, Book 4: Six Ghost Stories in Easy Chinese 6929,05802.825
The Cowherd and the Weaver Girl (牛郎织女) 52912,18712.613
The Last King of Shang (hardcover) 2,139226,4871593.370
The Last King of Shang (Chinese only) 2,139226,4871593.370
The Last King of Shang, Book 6 1,29534,754213.456
The Last King of Shang, Book 5 1,22235,522253.353
The Last King of Shang, Book 4 1,20439,202203.248
The Last King of Shang, Book 3 1,29838,901203.350
The Last King of Shang, Book 2 1,30741,428183.149
The Last King of Shang, Book 1 1,22636,832243.248
The Thousand Children (一千個孩子) in Traditional Chinese 8428,716103.349
The Magic Ginseng Tree (神奇的人參樹) in Traditional Chinese 6229,80553.028
The Monster’s Secret (妖怪的秘密) in Traditional Chinese 67811,04162.828
The Five Treasures (五寶) in Traditional Chinese 68111,30793.133
The Ghost King (鬼王) in Traditional Chinese 68711,30943.030
The Cave of Fire (火洞) in Traditional Chinese 79413,771133.039
The Daoist Immortals (道教神仙) in Traditional Chinese 80710,966103.139
The Great Demon King (大魔王) in Traditional Chinese 83310,048143.045
The Thieves (小偷) in Traditional Chinese 79110,949113.141
The Country of Women (女子國) in Traditional Chinese 79211,397103.040
The Angry Monkey (生氣的 猴子) in Traditional Chinese 74710,741133.040
The Burning Mountain (燃燒的山) in Traditional Chinese 83311,100143.147
The False Buddha (假佛) in Traditional Chinese 82110,446173.250
The Rain of Blood (血雨) in Traditional Chinese 89812,082123.145
The Monkey Doctor (猴子醫生) in Traditional Chinese 91712,659103.244
The Demons of Spiderweb Mountain (蛛網山的惡魔) in Traditional Chinese 7908,496103.246
Great Peng and His Brothers (大鵬和他的兄弟們) in Traditional Chinese 89112,577123.143
The Monk and the Mouse (和尚和老鼠) in Traditional Chinese 90412,14693.143
The Dharma Destroying Kingdom (破法王國) in Traditional Chinese 91111,172193.151
The Nine Headed Lion (九頭獅子) in Traditional Chinese 91913,088113.244
The Lazy Monk (懶僧) in Traditional Chinese 1,06215,658183.252
The Last Trial (最後的苦難) in Traditional Chinese 1,11718,346183.250
The Journey to the West (Chinese only) 2,238324,545953.062
The Journey to the West (hardcover and ebook) 2,238324,545953.062
The Journey to the West, Books 30 and 31 1,42934,011263.255
The Journey to the West, Books 28 and 29 1,20424,268233.250
The Last Trial (最后的苦难) in Simplified Chinese 1,11718,346183.250
The Lazy Monk (懒僧) in Simplified Chinese 1,06215,658183.252
The Nine Headed Lion (九头狮子) in Simplified Chinese 91913,088113.244
The Journey to the West, Books 25, 26 and 27 1,34533,457223.251
The Dharma Destroying Kingdom (破法王国) in Simplified Chinese 91111,172193.151
The Monk and the Mouse (和尚和老鼠) in Simplified Chinese 90412,14693.143
The Thousand Children (一千个孩子) in Simplified Chinese 8428,716103.349
The Journey to the West, Books 22, 23 and 24 1,34431,614273.253
Great Peng and His Brothers (大鹏和他的兄弟们) in Simplified Chinese 89112,577123.143
The Journey to the West, Books 19, 20 and 21 1,32633,934283.151
The Demons of Spiderweb Mountain (蛛网山的恶魔) in Simplified Chinese 7908,496103.246
The Monkey Doctor (猴子医生) in Simplified Chinese 91712,659103.244
The Ball of Fire (火球) 3462,53022.722
The Rain of Blood (血雨) in Simplified Chinese 89812,082123.145
The False Buddha (假佛) in Simplified Chinese 82110,446173.250
Hedgepig and Little Bird (小树猪和小鸟) 2681,50013.121
The Journey to the West, Books 16, 17 and 18 1,29932,402253.048
The Burning Mountain (燃烧的山) in Simplified Chinese 83311,100143.147
The Angry Monkey (生气的 猴子) in Simplified Chinese 74710,741133.040
The Country of Women (女子国) in Simplified Chinese 79211,397103.040
The Thieves (小偷) in Simplified Chinese 79110,949113.141
The Great Demon King (大魔王) in Simplified Chinese 83310,048143.045
Learn to Read Chinese, Book 3: Four Love Stories in Easy Chinese 74510,144102.733
The Three Beautiful Daughters (三個漂亮的女兒) in Traditional Chinese 6369,01682.731
The Hungry Pig (很餓的豬) in Traditional Chinese 69610,20252.930
The Monster of Black Wind Mountain (黑風山的妖怪) in Traditional Chinese 5709,77443.128
Mulan, Woman Warrior, Full Color Version (木兰女战士) 2651,99412.511
The Journey to the West, Books 13, 14 and 15 1,22736,088213.044
The Daoist Immortals (道教神仙) in Simplified Chinese 80710,966103.139
The Cave of Fire (火洞) in Simplified Chinese 79413,771133.039
Twenty Three Cats (二十三隻貓) 10171001.51
The Journey to the West, Books 1, 2 and 3 83016,00042.826
The Ghost King (鬼王) in Simplified Chinese 68711,30943.030
Learn to Read Chinese, Book 2: SIx Folk Tales in Easy Chinese 72311,08122.825
Learn to Read Chinese, Book 1: Four Classic Folk Tales in Simplified Chinese 65511,59552.725
Twenty Three Cats (二十三只猫) 10171001.51
The Love Triangle (三角恋) 6518,83132.623
The Journey to the West, Books 10, 11 and 12 1,03232,251103.034
The Journey Begins (西遊開始) in Traditional Chinese 6708,80142.929
The Emperor in Hell (獄裡的皇帝) in Traditional Chinese 5887,03742.623
The Young Monk (小和尚) in Traditional Chinese 5176,00422.721
Ye Xian, the Chinese Cinderella Story (叶限) 4474,54913.022
Hulin and the Mad Goose (虎林和狂鹅) 56511,59952.723
The Journey to the West, Books 7, 8 and 9 96029,003102.934
The Immortal Peaches (仙桃) in Traditional Chinese 5175,61412.820
Trouble in Heaven (天宮裡找麻煩) in Traditional Chinese 4315,16822.617
The Journey to the West, Books 4, 5 and 6 94121,87472.731
The Rise of the Monkey King, Large Print Edition (猴王的诞生) in Simplified Chinese 5085,21622.922
The Five Treasures (五宝) in Simplified Chinese 68111,30793.133
The Monster’s Secret (妖怪的秘密) in Simplified Chinese 67811,04162.828
The Magic Ginseng Tree (神奇的人参树) in Simplified Chinese 6229,80553.028
The Emperor in Hell (狱里的皇帝) in Simplified Chinese 5887,03742.623
The Young Monk (小和尚) in Simplified Chinese 5176,00422.721
The Immortal Peaches (仙桃) in Simplified Chinese 5175,61412.820
Trouble in Heaven (天宫里找麻烦) in Simplified Chinese 4315,16822.617
The Journey Begins (西游开始) in Simplified Chinese 6708,80142.929
Mulan, Woman Warrior (木蘭女戰士) 2651,99412.511
Mulan, Woman Warrior (木兰女战士) 2651,99412.511
The Rise of the Monkey King (猴王的诞生) in Simplified Chinese 5085,21622.922
The Rise of the Monkey King (猴王的誕生) in Traditional Chinese 5085,21622.922
The Three Beautiful Daughters (三个漂亮的女儿) in Simplified Chinese 6369,01682.731
The Monster of Black Wind Mountain (黑风山的妖怪) in Simplified Chinese 5709,77443.128
The Journey to the West, Books 1, 2 and 3 83016,00042.826
The Hungry Pig (很饿的猪) in Simplified Chinese 69610,20252.930

For each of our graded readers, you can see the percentage of characters that you should already know if you’ve mastered all the words in HSK-2, 3, 4 or 5. You can sort by any column.

Title % of
chars in
HSK 1-2
% of
chars in
HSK 1-3
% of
chars in
HSK 1-4
% of
chars in
HSK 1-5
Readability if
you've
mastered
HSK-2
Readability if
you've
mastered
HSK-3
Readability if
you've
mastered
HSK-4
Readability if
you've
mastered
HSK-5
Mulan, Femme Guerrière (木兰女战士) 89%95%97%98%HardMediumEasyEasy
The Qing Dynasty: The Last Emperors 83%90%96%98%Very HardHardEasyEasy
The Han Dynasty: Foundation of Chinese Civilization 90%95%99%99%HardMediumEasyEasy
The Ming Dynasty: Restoration and Expansion 85%92%97%99%Very HardMediumEasyEasy
The Song Dynasty: The Age of Innovation 86%92%97%99%HardMediumEasyEasy
The Tang Dynasty: The Golden Age 84%91%96%98%Very HardMediumEasyEasy
The Qin Dynasty: Birth of the Empire 86%92%96%98%HardMediumEasyEasy
The Yuan Dynasty: China Under Foreign Rule 84%91%97%99%Very HardMediumEasyEasy
Confucius the Sage (孔子) – Heroes of Ancient China, Book 7 85%91%96%98%Very HardMediumEasyEasy
Sun Tzu the Strategist (孙子) – Heroes of Ancient China, Book 5 88%93%97%99%HardMediumEasyEasy
Chang’e (嫦娥) – Heroes of Ancient China, Book 2 86%92%96%98%HardMediumEasyEasy
Hou Yi the Archer (后羿) – Heroes of Ancient China, Book 6 88%94%98%99%HardMediumEasyEasy
Yu the Great (大禹) – Heroes of Ancient China, Book 3 88%94%97%98%HardMediumEasyEasy
Nüwa the Creator (女娲) – Heroes of Ancient China, Book 4 93%98%99%100%MediumEasyEasyEasy
Chengyu! (成语!) 87%93%97%98%HardMediumEasyEasy
Nezha (哪吒) – Heroes of Ancient China, Book 1 91%96%99%99%MediumEasyEasyEasy
Sun Wukong: The Journey to the West (in English) 88%93%97%99%HardMediumEasyEasy
Learn to Read Chinese, Book 4: Six Ghost Stories in Easy Chinese 89%94%98%99%HardMediumEasyEasy
The Cowherd and the Weaver Girl (牛郎织女) 95%99%100%100%MediumEasyEasyEasy
The Last King of Shang (hardcover) 97%98%99%99%EasyEasyEasyEasy
The Last King of Shang (Chinese only) 97%98%99%99%EasyEasyEasyEasy
The Last King of Shang, Book 6 89%93%96%98%HardMediumEasyEasy
The Last King of Shang, Book 5 91%94%96%98%MediumMediumEasyEasy
The Last King of Shang, Book 4 91%94%97%98%MediumMediumEasyEasy
The Last King of Shang, Book 3 91%94%97%98%MediumMediumEasyEasy
The Last King of Shang, Book 2 92%95%97%98%MediumMediumEasyEasy
The Last King of Shang, Book 1 92%95%97%98%MediumMediumEasyEasy
The Thousand Children (一千個孩子) in Traditional Chinese 83%90%94%96%Very HardHardMediumEasy
The Magic Ginseng Tree (神奇的人參樹) in Traditional Chinese 90%95%97%98%HardMediumEasyEasy
The Monster’s Secret (妖怪的秘密) in Traditional Chinese 90%95%97%98%HardMediumEasyEasy
The Five Treasures (五寶) in Traditional Chinese 90%94%97%98%HardMediumEasyEasy
The Ghost King (鬼王) in Traditional Chinese 89%94%97%98%HardMediumEasyEasy
The Cave of Fire (火洞) in Traditional Chinese 89%93%96%98%HardMediumEasyEasy
The Daoist Immortals (道教神仙) in Traditional Chinese 88%93%96%98%HardMediumEasyEasy
The Great Demon King (大魔王) in Traditional Chinese 87%93%96%97%HardMediumEasyEasy
The Thieves (小偷) in Traditional Chinese 87%92%95%97%HardMediumMediumEasy
The Country of Women (女子國) in Traditional Chinese 87%92%95%97%HardMediumMediumEasy
The Angry Monkey (生氣的 猴子) in Traditional Chinese 88%93%96%97%HardMediumEasyEasy
The Burning Mountain (燃燒的山) in Traditional Chinese 86%91%95%97%HardMediumMediumEasy
The False Buddha (假佛) in Traditional Chinese 85%91%95%97%Very HardMediumMediumEasy
The Rain of Blood (血雨) in Traditional Chinese 86%91%95%97%HardMediumMediumEasy
The Monkey Doctor (猴子醫生) in Traditional Chinese 86%91%95%97%HardMediumMediumEasy
The Demons of Spiderweb Mountain (蛛網山的惡魔) in Traditional Chinese 84%90%94%97%Very HardHardMediumEasy
Great Peng and His Brothers (大鵬和他的兄弟們) in Traditional Chinese 86%92%95%98%HardMediumMediumEasy
The Monk and the Mouse (和尚和老鼠) in Traditional Chinese 86%91%95%97%HardMediumMediumEasy
The Dharma Destroying Kingdom (破法王國) in Traditional Chinese 86%91%95%97%HardMediumMediumEasy
The Nine Headed Lion (九頭獅子) in Traditional Chinese 87%92%95%97%HardMediumMediumEasy
The Lazy Monk (懶僧) in Traditional Chinese 87%92%95%97%HardMediumMediumEasy
The Last Trial (最後的苦難) in Traditional Chinese 87%92%95%97%HardMediumMediumEasy
The Journey to the West (Chinese only) 98%99%99%99%EasyEasyEasyEasy
The Journey to the West (hardcover and ebook) 98%99%99%99%EasyEasyEasyEasy
The Journey to the West, Books 30 and 31 91%94%96%98%MediumMediumEasyEasy
The Journey to the West, Books 28 and 29 90%93%96%98%HardMediumEasyEasy
The Last Trial (最后的苦难) in Simplified Chinese 87%92%95%97%HardMediumMediumEasy
The Lazy Monk (懒僧) in Simplified Chinese 87%92%95%97%HardMediumMediumEasy
The Nine Headed Lion (九头狮子) in Simplified Chinese 87%92%95%97%HardMediumMediumEasy
The Journey to the West, Books 25, 26 and 27 91%94%96%98%MediumMediumEasyEasy
The Dharma Destroying Kingdom (破法王国) in Simplified Chinese 86%91%95%97%HardMediumMediumEasy
The Monk and the Mouse (和尚和老鼠) in Simplified Chinese 86%91%95%97%HardMediumMediumEasy
The Thousand Children (一千个孩子) in Simplified Chinese 83%90%94%96%Very HardHardMediumEasy
The Journey to the West, Books 22, 23 and 24 91%94%96%98%MediumMediumEasyEasy
Great Peng and His Brothers (大鹏和他的兄弟们) in Simplified Chinese 86%92%95%98%HardMediumMediumEasy
The Journey to the West, Books 19, 20 and 21 91%94%97%98%MediumMediumEasyEasy
The Demons of Spiderweb Mountain (蛛网山的恶魔) in Simplified Chinese 84%90%94%97%Very HardHardMediumEasy
The Monkey Doctor (猴子医生) in Simplified Chinese 86%91%95%97%HardMediumMediumEasy
The Ball of Fire (火球) 86%94%98%98%HardMediumEasyEasy
The Rain of Blood (血雨) in Simplified Chinese 86%91%95%97%HardMediumMediumEasy
The False Buddha (假佛) in Simplified Chinese 85%91%95%97%Very HardMediumMediumEasy
Hedgepig and Little Bird (小树猪和小鸟) 83%90%94%98%Very HardHardMediumEasy
The Journey to the West, Books 16, 17 and 18 92%95%97%98%MediumMediumEasyEasy
The Burning Mountain (燃烧的山) in Simplified Chinese 86%91%95%97%HardMediumMediumEasy
The Angry Monkey (生气的 猴子) in Simplified Chinese 88%93%96%97%HardMediumEasyEasy
The Country of Women (女子国) in Simplified Chinese 87%92%95%97%HardMediumMediumEasy
The Thieves (小偷) in Simplified Chinese 87%92%95%97%HardMediumMediumEasy
The Great Demon King (大魔王) in Simplified Chinese 87%93%96%97%HardMediumEasyEasy
Learn to Read Chinese, Book 3: Four Love Stories in Easy Chinese 89%94%98%99%HardMediumEasyEasy
The Three Beautiful Daughters (三個漂亮的女兒) in Traditional Chinese 89%95%97%98%HardMediumEasyEasy
The Hungry Pig (很餓的豬) in Traditional Chinese 90%95%97%98%HardMediumEasyEasy
The Monster of Black Wind Mountain (黑風山的妖怪) in Traditional Chinese 90%95%97%98%HardMediumEasyEasy
Mulan, Woman Warrior, Full Color Version (木兰女战士) 89%95%97%98%HardMediumEasyEasy
The Journey to the West, Books 13, 14 and 15 93%96%97%98%MediumEasyEasyEasy
The Daoist Immortals (道教神仙) in Simplified Chinese 88%93%96%98%HardMediumEasyEasy
The Cave of Fire (火洞) in Simplified Chinese 89%93%96%98%HardMediumEasyEasy
Twenty Three Cats (二十三隻貓) 99%100%100%100%EasyEasyEasyEasy
The Journey to the West, Books 1, 2 and 3 92%96%98%99%MediumEasyEasyEasy
The Ghost King (鬼王) in Simplified Chinese 89%94%97%98%HardMediumEasyEasy
Learn to Read Chinese, Book 2: SIx Folk Tales in Easy Chinese 89%94%97%98%HardMediumEasyEasy
Learn to Read Chinese, Book 1: Four Classic Folk Tales in Simplified Chinese 90%95%98%99%HardMediumEasyEasy
Twenty Three Cats (二十三只猫) 99%100%100%100%EasyEasyEasyEasy
The Love Triangle (三角恋) 90%95%98%99%HardMediumEasyEasy
The Journey to the West, Books 10, 11 and 12 94%97%98%99%MediumEasyEasyEasy
The Journey Begins (西遊開始) in Traditional Chinese 89%94%97%98%HardMediumEasyEasy
The Emperor in Hell (獄裡的皇帝) in Traditional Chinese 90%95%97%98.4%HardMediumEasyEasy
The Young Monk (小和尚) in Traditional Chinese 90%96%97%98%HardEasyEasyEasy
Ye Xian, the Chinese Cinderella Story (叶限) 86%93%97%98%HardMediumEasyEasy
Hulin and the Mad Goose (虎林和狂鹅) 90%95%98%99%HardMediumEasyEasy
The Journey to the West, Books 7, 8 and 9 94%97%98%99%MediumEasyEasyEasy
The Immortal Peaches (仙桃) in Traditional Chinese 87%93%96%98%HardMediumEasyEasy
Trouble in Heaven (天宮裡找麻煩) in Traditional Chinese 90%95%97%99%HardMediumEasyEasy
The Journey to the West, Books 4, 5 and 6 93%97%98%99%MediumEasyEasyEasy
The Rise of the Monkey King, Large Print Edition (猴王的诞生) in Simplified Chinese 89%95%97%99%HardMediumEasyEasy
The Five Treasures (五宝) in Simplified Chinese 90%94%97%98%HardMediumEasyEasy
The Monster’s Secret (妖怪的秘密) in Simplified Chinese 90%95%97%98%HardMediumEasyEasy
The Magic Ginseng Tree (神奇的人参树) in Simplified Chinese 90%95%97%98%HardMediumEasyEasy
The Emperor in Hell (狱里的皇帝) in Simplified Chinese 90%95%97%98%HardMediumEasyEasy
The Young Monk (小和尚) in Simplified Chinese 90%96%97%98%HardEasyEasyEasy
The Immortal Peaches (仙桃) in Simplified Chinese 87%93%96%98%HardMediumEasyEasy
Trouble in Heaven (天宫里找麻烦) in Simplified Chinese 90%95%97%99%HardMediumEasyEasy
The Journey Begins (西游开始) in Simplified Chinese 89%94%97%98%HardMediumEasyEasy
Mulan, Woman Warrior (木蘭女戰士) 89%95%97%98%HardMediumEasyEasy
Mulan, Woman Warrior (木兰女战士) 89%95%97%98%HardMediumEasyEasy
The Rise of the Monkey King (猴王的诞生) in Simplified Chinese 89%95%97%99%HardMediumEasyEasy
The Rise of the Monkey King (猴王的誕生) in Traditional Chinese 89%95%97%99%HardMediumEasyEasy
The Three Beautiful Daughters (三个漂亮的女儿) in Simplified Chinese 89%95%97%98%HardMediumEasyEasy
The Monster of Black Wind Mountain (黑风山的妖怪) in Simplified Chinese 90%95%97%98%HardMediumEasyEasy
The Journey to the West, Books 1, 2 and 3 92%96%98%99%MediumEasyEasyEasy
The Hungry Pig (很饿的猪) in Simplified Chinese 90%95%97%98%HardMediumEasyEasy