Everyone knows the Cinderella story, but did you know that there was a Chinese Cinderella story, from over 1,500 years ago? Instead of a fairy god mother, it was a fish and an old man that helped the Chinese Cinderella get to her ball. Did she have crystal shoes too? Well, sort of but not quite.

The Chinese Cinderella

The Hua Mountain in China is known for its steepness and legend has it that it was split open by a little boy named Chen Xiang. Why would he do that and how did he do that?

The boy Chen Xiang and the Lotus Lamp

Once upon a time, a White Snake Fairy fell in love with a young man in the mortal world. Marriage followed and all was well until the Dragon Boat Festival came around. What happened during the festival and did the husband ever find out about her true identity?

The Tale of the White Snake Fairy

Have you been to the Great Wall in Beijing or the Pyramids in Egypt? Have you ever wondered how these were built, one stone on top of another, without any modern machinery? These wonders of the world are so awe-inspiring to look at, but on the other hand, they were also built with the lives of so many. Here is one sad legend about the Great Wall.

Lady Mengjiang weeping over the Great Wall

If you feel like you've had enough of fairies, monsters and magical beasts, don't go away, because today's show will be about ancient weapons, some with magical powers of their own. Swords, daggers and tales of revenge!

Famous ancient Chinese weapons

If you have the opportunity to travel around the countryside in China, you might notice these fierce looking gods painted on red paper pasted onto the family gates. Who are these and what are they for?

The Chinese Door Gods

Have you ever wished that you could live like a fairy or some sort of immortal? The immortals are known to live a carefree life in Chinese culture, but there was this really famous gang of Eight Immortals that actually got into a lot of trouble. What happened?

The Eight Immortals crossing the sea

What would it be like to live for 800 years? As far as I know, only a few historical characters could know about that. A man named Peng Zu was among them. What was his secret?

The man who lived for 800 years

How much damage can a little boy do? Well, a lot I suppose. But this little boy called Ne Zha trumps them all. What kind of waves did he make? Big and mess ones for sure.

The boy called Ne Zha

Jiang Ziya was an unusual old man, a household name in China, even though he lived some three thousand years ago. Many remember him as this kind and wise old man from the TV series in the 1990s, someone who always knew the right thing to do and also had a clever plan.

The Legend of Jiang Ziya

Embark on great audio adventures with a rich collection of Chinese folk legends and historical tales.

As an English teacher I enjoy these. I may transcribe some of them and present them to a class for discussion.

As an English Teacher

非常好👍

Chinese Folk Tales

Once, a peasant discovered an old wooden barrel when he was digging in the field for planting. Thinking it could be used to holding grain, he took it home and soon discovered the barrel’s magic.

The magic barrel

Long long ago, the Zhuang ethnic people in southern China knew there was a sun in the sky and all creatures on earth could not live without it. But at that particular time, the Zhuangs were completely denied sunlight. The place they lived in was wrapped in absolute darkness and devoid of warmth.

Journey to the sun

It’s a beautiful sunny day along the banks of the Zhanghe River. Thousands of people have gathered for the grand wedding ceremony that’s about to be held. The bride will be put on the raft which will glide down the river for hours until it finally sinks. What a horrible idea! But wait to hear it out on this episode of Chinese Folk Tales.

River god

There once was a miserly landlord known as Skinflint. To him, the smallest coin was like a fortune. He never felt he had enough money.

The gold cat and the fire dragon shirt

There was once a young man named Wang who had admired Taoists since he was a little boy. One day he heard that there were immortals on Mt. Laoshan. Hoping to meet at least one of them, Wang bade farewell to his wife and headed for that holy site. Arriving at the top of Mt. Laoshan, Wang saw a secluded temple inside which sat a wise looking old priest.

The Taoist priest of Laoshan

There is said to be a Crabapple Tree that grows in the center of the Jade Dragon Lake in Southwest China’s Yunnan Province.

The crabapple tree

Have you ever seen the Phoenix Fairy Flower? When it’s in full blossom, its petals are as red as a flame, and they resemble a colorful phoenix with its wings outstretched. There is a beautiful tale about how the flower came to be.

The story of the Phoenix Fairy Flower

Many, many years ago, in a mountain village, there lived a beautiful girl who was very clever at making lace. She was known as Sister Lace. Whenever people got a piece of lace from her, they would immediately trim their tunics or shirt sleeves with it, and announce happily “look, I have a piece of braid made by Sister Lace.”

Sister Lace

A long time ago, there was a poor boy named Yan Ran. When he was very small, disease and hunger took his parents.

An orphan and his magic leaf

Long, long ago, in the forests of the northern hills, there lived a most remarkable talking bird. People came here from all directions with the hope of possessing it. Even though they all left empty-handed, more people arrived to try their luck.

The magic bird 1

The fifteenth day of the first lunar month is the traditional Chinese Lantern Festival. On that day, people eat sweet dumplings and enjoy looking at colorful lanterns, warmly glowing against the cold dark night sky.

Lantern Festival customs of the Manchu people

In the Jade Palace of the Eastern Sea, the Dragon King was trying to find a good husband for his youngest daughter. At first, he chose men with money and position. But the girl said she wanted a lad who was honest and brave.

The pearl that shone by night

Long, long ago, by the banks of the Hanyan Canal, there lived a senile old Muslim merchant who had three sons. One day, the man told his boys that he was too old to support them any longer. But he said he wanted to divide among them his last remaining property—seventeen horses.

17-17=1

This episode features the Water Splashing Festival of the Dai ethnic minority in southwestern China, which falls during the New Year celebrations of the Dai Calendar.

Water Splashing Festival

The king returned to the forests to try his luck a second time. Again, the magic bird had allowed itself to be carried away.

The magic bird 2

The old man had a donkey and decided to sell it. So one day, he and his son dropped the animal to market. On their way, they met a villager.

The old man, the boy and the donkey

Mount Mengsi on the Mongolian steppe was always shrouded in mist and clouds, and its peak was hidden all year round. Its slopes were covered by a dense forest. In a cave near a waterfall at the foot of this mountain, there lived a woodcutter who can tame a horse as others tame a rabbit.

A hard won love (part 1)

The woodcutter fell deeply in love with this girl, whose wicked father wanted to separate the two. He asked the young man to sleep in a room where there was a man-eating snake.

A hard won love (part 2)

There was once a miserly landlord known as Skinflint. To him, the smallest coin was like a fortune, and he never felt he had enough money. One year, as a long drought lingered in the area, he bought up green in hopes of making great profits. His tenants, who had less and less to eat, gathered together and discussed taking countermeasures.

The gold coat and the fire dragon shirt

In Chinese folktales, the Heavenly Emperor was the most powerful god who controlled the universe. Once the god was traveling on earth followed by several hundred cavalrymen, dozens of carts and several scores of elephants. As they passed along, they seriously damaged much of the farmland along the way, since no road was wide enough for such a great caravan.

Elephant Trunk Hill

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Best Episodes: Interesting Stories & Things

The best podcast episodes on parenting. Interviewing experts and talking through common issues surrounding parenting. This topic is filled with important lessons and insights for anyone listening. Add episodes you're interested into your queue below!