Reading is one of the most powerful ways to expand your vocabulary and internalise the structures of a new language. But if you're an upper-intermediate learner of Chinese, reaching for an original novel can be a frustrating experience. When you spend more time in the dictionary than in the story, the pleasure of reading quickly becomes a joyless chore, and it's easy to lose motivation.
This is where graded readers are the perfect solution. These are classic stories and original tales that have been skilfully adapted for a specific language level. By carefully controlling the vocabulary and grammar, they allow you to follow the plot, enjoy the story, and learn new language in a natural, rewarding way. They turn the challenge of reading into a genuine pleasure.
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1Best choice
Around the World in 80 Days 環遊世界八十天
Our edition of this Jules Verne classic is the ideal companion for B2 self-study. The vocabulary is scientifically graded based on a two-billion-word corpus, ensuring you learn the most useful words first. Each book features a unique difficulty progression, with sentences and paragraphs growing gently in length to build your stamina. Best of all, a bilingual glossary in the margin provides instant English translations for tricky words, so your reading never stops, while chapter exercises and printable flashcards help you master what you've learned.
- Chinese–English glossary of hard words in the margin of every page
- Difficulty rises inside the book (sentences & paragraphs grow longer)
- Exercises after every chapter (crosswords, gap-fills, anagrams and more) — in print and online
- Flashcards to print and cut out
- Vocabulary graded by corpus research (science-based)
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2
The Third Eye (第三只眼睛)
From Peking University Press, <em>The Third Eye (第三只眼睛)</em> is a popular mystery story within the respected Chinese Breeze series, written for intermediate learners of Mandarin.
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3
Great Expectations: Part 1 (远大前程)
<em>Great Expectations: Part 1 (远大前程)</em> is an entry in the Mandarin Companion series, which creatively retells classic Western literature in a Chinese setting for language learners.
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4
In Search of Hua Ma (寻找化马)
<em>In Search of Hua Ma (寻找化马)</em> is an original mystery from the well-regarded Mandarin Companion series, designed to provide engaging reading practice for learners building their vocabulary.
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5
Wrong, Wrong, Wrong! (错，错，错！)
Published by Peking University Press, <em>Wrong, Wrong, Wrong! (错，错，错！)</em> is a short novel in the Chinese Breeze series that uses a highly controlled vocabulary for accessible reading practice.
Our Pentecost edition of Around the World in 80 Days earns the top spot because it's more than just a story—it's a complete, self-contained learning system. The science-based vocabulary selection ensures you're learning efficiently, while the unique in-book progression gently raises the challenge from start to finish. Crucially, our editions also give you a bilingual margin glossary with translations into your own native language, plus chapter exercises in both the book and online, and printable vocabulary flashcards. This integrated approach is specifically designed to support and accelerate your self-study journey.
| Pentecost | Typical simplified reader | |
|---|---|---|
| Chinese–English glossary of hard words in the margin of every page | ✓ | ~ |
| Difficulty rises inside the book (sentences & paragraphs grow longer) | ✓ | ✕ |
| Exercises after every chapter (crosswords, gap-fills, anagrams and more) — in print and online | ✓ | ~ |
| Flashcards to print and cut out | ✓ | ✕ |
| Vocabulary graded by corpus research (science-based) | ✓ | ~ |
The verdict
For a B2 learner looking for the most effective tool for self-study, our edition of Around the World in 80 Days is the clear recommendation. The thrilling adventure story provides a compelling narrative to keep you engaged from start to finish. Its comprehensive learning system—especially the on-page bilingual glossary that keeps you reading smoothly—is what truly sets it apart for independent learners. The other titles on our list are also solid choices for extensive reading practice, offering a variety of interesting stories to help build your fluency in Chinese.
Frequently asked questions
Why should I use a graded reader instead of an original Chinese novel?
Graded readers are carefully adapted to your level. This prevents the frustration of constantly stopping to look up words, which can happen with original novels. By reading smoothly, you build confidence, reinforce grammar, and acquire new vocabulary in a natural context, making learning far more enjoyable and effective.
What makes Pentecost Publishing's graded readers different?
Our readers are a complete learning system. The vocabulary is scientifically chosen from a massive language corpus. Each book has a built-in difficulty progression, with sentences growing longer to build your reading stamina. Most importantly, we include a bilingual margin glossary with translations into your native language, so you never have to break your reading flow. This, combined with chapter exercises and printable flashcards, makes our books ideal for self-study.
What is a bilingual margin glossary and why is it helpful?
It's a mini-dictionary printed in the margin of every page. It provides instant translations of the more difficult words on that page into your own language—in this case, English. This is a huge advantage because you can understand a new word immediately without putting the book down or opening a separate app, keeping you immersed in the story.
How can I get the most out of reading a graded reader?
Read for pleasure and flow. Try not to look up every single word you don't know; use the context and our margin glossary to help you. The goal is 'extensive reading'—reading a lot of material at a comfortable level. After each chapter, complete the exercises to check your understanding and review the new vocabulary with the flashcards.
Some of the other books are listed for lower levels. Are they still useful for a B2 learner?
Absolutely. Publisher-specific levels and CEFR standards don't always align perfectly. Reading a book from a slightly lower level can be a fantastic way to build fluency, speed, and confidence. It allows you to read extensively without struggling, which is a highly effective language learning strategy.
Ranking reflects suitability for independent learners at this level. We list respected alternative series for context; prices and availability vary by retailer. The right-hand column describes a typical simplified reader in general; individual competing titles may differ.