A Chinese podcast · Same story, 4 levels
Photo: The White House · Public domain
习近平十一年来首访华盛顿：隆重欢迎、一对大熊猫，和延长两个月的贸易休战
Xi's First Washington Visit in 11 Years: Pageantry, a Pair of Pandas and a Two-Month Trade Truce
About this story
Chinese President Xi Jinping's three-day state visit to Washington (Sept 23–25, 2026) returned Donald Trump's May trip to Beijing. Trump met him at the plane; Xi said AI must stay under human control and competition should be a race, not a wrestling match; a harpist played 'The Moon Represents My Heart' at the state dinner. China's foreign ministry listed eight points, including a two-month trade-truce extension, an AI dialogue and incident hotline, and two pandas loaned to Zoo Atlanta — while US analysts called it big on spectacle, light on substance. Chinese listening practice at four levels. HSK 1 Chinese listening practice.
This is an HSK 1 Chinese listening episode that runs about 2 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 12 key vocabulary words such as 飞机、住、工作 and walks through 3 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
In China there's a man named Xi Jinping.
In America there's a man named Trump.
This week, Xi Jinping went to America.
It was Trump who invited him.
In May, Trump went to China — to Beijing.
This week, it was Xi Jinping's turn to go to America.
Xi Jinping flew to America.
Trump and his wife waited for him beside the plane.
An American president waiting beside a plane for someone is very, very rare.
Xi Jinping stayed in America for three days.
They talked a lot at the White House.
The White House is the American president's home.
The American president also works at the White House.
Trump invited Xi Jinping and his wife to dinner.
During dinner, they listened to a Chinese song.
Lots of Chinese people love this song.
Trump and Xi Jinping also had tea.
Then they went to see some very, very old things in America.
Trump said: America has two hundred and fifty years; China has six thousand.
So what did Xi Jinping and Trump talk about in these three days?
China and America buy and sell things to each other, and there are lots of problems.
They said: for two months, the buying and selling stays as it is.
They also talked about computers, and about AI.
They said: if there's a problem with AI, we'll call each other.
China has two giant pandas that are going to America.
In November, Xi Jinping and Trump will meet in China.
In December, they'll meet in America.
But some Americans say: in these three days there was lots to look at, but not much that was new.
Many big problems still haven't been settled.
When two countries' leaders meet more often, do you think it helps?
Listen again
Try it without the transcript and notice what sounds clearer.
What vocabulary does this episode teach?
词汇HSK 1. 特朗普和他的太太，在飞机旁边等他.
HSK 1. 习近平在美国住了三天.
HSK 1. 美国总统也在白宫工作.
HSK 1. 特朗普和习近平也喝了茶.
HSK 1. 喝茶 — the last day of the visit.
HSK 1. 这个星期，习近平去了美国.
Used for the US president: 美国总统.
白 (white) + 宫 (palace). 白宫是美国总统的家.
特朗普和他的太太.
HSK 2. 很多大问题，现在都没有说好.
人工 (man-made) + 智能 (intelligence).
Measure word 只: 两只大熊猫.
* beyond level超纲词
What grammar patterns appear in this episode?
语法A 请 B + verb
A invites B to do something.
特朗普请习近平和他的太太吃饭。
……，你说有用吗？
A casual way to ask someone's opinion.
两个国家的人多见面，你说有用吗？
Proper Nouns
专有名词Free account
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