The Chairman’s Bao review
A focused way to build Chinese reading and listening skills through graded news.
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
The Chairman’s Bao turns current-events articles into graded Chinese lessons for learners from beginner through advanced levels. It suits students who want reading and listening practice grounded in news, rather than a broad course spanning several languages. Lessons pair articles with native-speaker audio, comprehension quizzes, vocabulary and grammar explanations, a one-tap Chinese-to-English dictionary, flashcards, progress tracking, and character stroke-order practice. Web, iOS, and Android access gives learners options for where to study, with saved lessons available offline in the app.
Its strongest distinction is the combination of current-events reading with level and topic controls. Learners can filter by HSK level, topic, and date, then reinforce articles through quizzes, vocabulary lists, and writing practice. This makes it a natural fit for people who want structured exposure to Chinese text and audio. The product is centered on receptive language skills and character writing; it does not verify speech practice, so learners seeking pronunciation feedback should pair it with another tool or choose an alternative that offers that capability.
A free plan provides selected sample lessons, while paid subscriptions provide full, unlimited access to the website and app. According to the vendor’s pricing page, the monthly plan is $11 per month; longer options are $9.17 per month for 3 months, $8.25 for 6 months, $7.33 for 12 months, and $6.42 per month on the 2-year plan, billed every 2 years. Canvas and Google Classroom integrations also make it relevant to classroom use. Pick it for graded news-based Chinese study and offline lesson access; look elsewhere if you need multiple languages or verified speaking practice.
The Chairman’s Bao pros and cons
- Where it wins
- Graded articles span beginner to advanced levels, with topic and HSK filters
- Native audio, comprehension quizzes, dictionary, flashcards, and writing practice
- Offline study and integrations with Canvas and Google Classroom
- Where it doesn't
- The lesson library focuses on Chinese rather than multiple languages
- Speech practice is not verified
- Full lesson-library access requires a paid subscription
The Chairman’s Bao fact sheet, pricing and score →
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