A Chinese podcast · Same story, 4 levels
中国对英国和加拿大人免签
China Opens Visa-Free Travel to UK and Canada — A Trip to Beijing, Shanghai and the Great Wall
About this story
China lets British and Canadian travelers visit Beijing, Shanghai and the Great Wall visa-free — a simple new policy. HSK 1 Chinese listening practice.
This is an HSK 1 Chinese listening episode that runs about 7 minutes. The full Mandarin script is shown with tap-for-pinyin and a line-by-line English translation, so you can listen and read at once — comprehensible input in the sense of Stephen Krashen's i+1 theory. It teaches 14 key vocabulary words such as 旅游、高兴、漂亮 and walks through 5 grammar patterns, each explained in English with examples. The same news story is retold at 4 difficulty levels — use the level selector above to find the version that is challenging but still understandable for you.
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原文Read the complete story in Chinese. Reveal pinyin and English only when you need them.
English transcript reference
Speaking of the new regulations for traveling to China, let's talk about this today.
Many people like to travel.
Traveling is a very happy thing.
Everyone likes to go to different countries.
Some people like to go to China.
China is very big.
China is very beautiful.
China has a lot of delicious food.
China has many beautiful places.
For example, Beijing.
For example, Shanghai.
Do you want to go to China?
If you want to go to China, what do you need?
You need money.
You need to buy a plane ticket.
You need to pack clothes.
But, there is one more thing that is very important.
This thing is called a visa.
What is a visa?
A visa is just a piece of paper.
Or a permit.
This is a permit from a country letting you enter.
If you don't have a visa, you cannot go.
If you don't have a visa, you cannot get on the plane.
Before, going to China always required a visa.
Getting a visa was hard.
Getting a visa was slow.
You had to go to the embassy.
You had to write a lot of words.
You had to tell them who you are.
You had to tell them what work you do.
You had to give them money.
Then, you also had to wait.
Wait a few days, or a few weeks.
This is very troublesome.
Many people didn't go to China because they were afraid of the trouble.
But, now there is big news.
This is news from 2026.
China has a new regulation.
This regulation makes some people very happy.
Let's tell a story.
There are three people in the story.
The first person is called Tom.
Tom is a man.
Where is Tom from?
Tom is British.
His home is in the UK.
Tom likes China very much.
He wants to go to China to see the Great Wall.
He wants to go to China to eat dumplings.
Tom watches the news.
The news says: British people going to China do not need a visa anymore.
Tom is very happy.
He doesn't believe it.
He looks at it again.
The news says: Really, British people are visa-free.
"Mianqian" means no visa needed.
Tom is so happy.
He says: I can leave right now.
He packs his things at home.
He takes out a big suitcase.
He puts clothes inside the suitcase.
He puts his computer inside the suitcase.
He bought a plane ticket for today.
He takes a taxi to the airport.
He takes a plane to China.
Arriving in China, he walks off the plane.
No one asks him for a visa.
He walks directly into China.
Very fast.
Very convenient.
Tom calls a friend.
He says: I am in China!
Not needing a visa is really good.
The second person is called Mike.
Mike is Tom's friend.
Where is Mike from?
Mike is Canadian.
His home is in Canada.
Mike also wants to go to China.
He wants to go to China to drink tea.
He wants to go to China to see giant pandas.
Mike has been to China before.
Before, he spent a long time getting a visa.
This time, Mike asks: Do I need a visa?
The news says: Canadians also don't need a visa.
This is new good news.
Canadians are the same as British people.
Neither needs a visa.
Mike is very happy.
Mike also bought a plane ticket.
Mike also flew to China.
He and Tom met in China.
They eat at a restaurant.
They eat rice.
They eat dishes.
They are very happy.
Because going to China is too easy.
No need to write words.
No need to wait.
Go if you want to go.
But, there is a third person.
His name is John.
John is also their friend.
Where is John from?
John is American.
His home is in the USA.
John sees Tom in China.
John sees Mike in China.
John says: I want to go too.
Let's go to China to play too.
John takes out his computer.
John wants to buy a plane ticket.
But, John stopped.
Why?
Because John is American.
The news says: Americans going to China need a visa.
Why is this?
Tom doesn't need a visa.
Mike doesn't need a visa.
Why does John need a visa?
Because the regulations are different.
There are five countries that are good friends.
These five countries are: UK, Canada, USA, Australia, New Zealand.
These five countries have a good relationship.
But, China's new regulation is different.
British people can be visa-free.
Canadians can be visa-free.
Australians can too.
New Zealanders can too.
Among these five countries, only Americans cannot.
Only Americans still need a visa.
John is very unhappy.
John cannot leave immediately.
John has to go apply for a visa.
He has to go to the embassy.
He has to queue.
There are many people there.
He has to fill out a form.
He has to give money.
The staff says: Please wait.
John asks: How long do I have to wait?
The staff says: Wait a few days.
John can only go home.
He waits at home.
He watches TV at home.
He watches his friends playing in China on TV.
Tom and Mike are eating good things.
John is eating bread at home.
John feels it is unfair.
He says: Why am I American?
If I were British, I would be in China.
If I were Canadian, I would also be in China.
But I am American, I can only be at home.
What does this story tell us?
This story is about the latest events.
China is very open now.
China welcomes people from many countries.
China is visa-free for British people.
China is visa-free for Canadians.
This makes traveling very convenient.
This makes working very convenient.
If you are British, you can go.
If you are Canadian, you can go.
No need to worry about visa problems.
But, if you are American, you must pay attention.
This good news does not include the USA.
Americans going to China, it's still the old way.
Still need that permit.
Still need that piece of paper.
This is today's news.
News about Chinese visas.
If you want to go to China, first see where you are from.
See if you need a visa or not.
Hope everyone can go travel.
Hope everyone can be happy.
Listen again
Try it without the transcript and notice what sounds clearer.
What vocabulary does this episode teach?
词汇A common verb and noun for traveling for pleasure.
Adjective describing a happy feeling.
Adjective often used for scenery or people.
General term for clothing. Measure word is 件 (jiàn).
Transportation method. 坐飞机 (zuò fēijī) means to take a plane.
HSK 1. taxi.
HSK 1. to make a phone call.
An official document allowing entry into a country. 办签证 (bàn qiānzhèng) means to apply for a visa.
Short for 免去签证 (miǎnqù qiānzhèng), meaning no visa is required.
Rules set by an authority.
Adjective describing something that saves time or effort.
Adjective for something annoying or complicated; can also mean to bother someone.
Often used as 收拾行李 (pack luggage) or 收拾东西 (pack things).
The official office of one country located in another country.
* beyond level超纲词
What grammar patterns appear in this episode?
语法如果……(的话)，(就)……
A common conditional structure meaning 'If..., (then)...'. The second part often implies the result.
如果你想去中国，你需要什么？
如果你没有签证，你不能去。
比如……
Used to give examples, meaning 'for example' or 'such as'.
比如北京。
比如上海。
把 + Object + Verb + Location
The 'Ba' sentence structure is used when the subject manipulates an object and changes its state or location.
他把衣服放在箱子里。
他把电脑放在箱子里。
因为……，所以/就……
Cause and effect structure 'Because..., therefore/then...'. In spoken Chinese, '所以' is sometimes omitted or replaced by '就' to show the result.
很多人因为怕麻烦，就不去中国了。
因为John是美国人。(Implied result follows)
对 + Person/Target + [Verb/Adjective]
The preposition 对 (duì) indicates the target of an action or attitude, meaning 'towards' or 'for'.
中国对英国人免签。
中国对加拿大人免签。
Proper Nouns
专有名词Sources
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