Chinese Folk Tales
Episodes
Xinjiang Series | Lively Stories, Vibrant Streets: My Xinjiang Adventure
19 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this special episode of "Chinese Folk Tales", our journalist Bianca takes you on an unforgettable journey through Xinjiang — from the vibrant Gra...
Xinjiang Series | A doctor's healing bowl and Xinjiang's famous lamb pilaf
14 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Over a thousand years ago, an aging doctor discovered that sometimes the best medicine comes in the form of food. In this episode of "Chinese Folk Tal...
Xinjiang Series | A roadside chicken dish-turned Xinjiang's culinary icon
10 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Tender chicken, spicy chilies, saucy potatoes, and chewy noodles – all piled high on one massive plate. More than just food, Big Plate Chicken is a ...
Xinjiang Series | A shepherd's dough hat and Xinjiang's beloved nang
07 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Under the blazing sun of the Taklamakan Desert, one shepherd's clumsy mishap gave birth to a timeless treasure. In this bonus episode of "Chinese Folk...
Xinjiang Series | Professor Zhang: "Loong" is not to be interpreted as a "dragon"
03 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Prof. Zhang Juwen argues that translating "龙" as "dragon" perpetuates colonial discourse. The Chinese loong embodies benevolence, ethics, and hope, ...
Xinjiang Series | Professor Zhang on how folk tales bridge cultures
30 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Folklore expert Professor Zhang Juwen reveals how ancient Chinese folk tales, while adapting, retain their core ethics, fostering global connections a...
Xinjiang Series | The secret behind Xinjiang's sweet grapes
26 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Once upon a time, the desert kingdom lay choked by yellow dust from raging sandstorms, waiting for a miracle to change its fate. How did it transform ...
Xinjiang Series | The singing tree
23 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Have you ever wondered how the very first stringed instrument came into being? Maybe this story can explain the birth of the very special Dombra. For...
Xinjiang Series | Tale of Boston Lake: the trial of love
19 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
When times get tough, the Dragon King descends from Heaven to battle the drought – but the arrival of a mysterious demon girl throws everything into...
Xinjiang Series | The village girl who became a legend
16 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Born in a small village, she captures the king's heart and rises to greatness, leaving a mark on history with her mastery of Xinjiang's unique Muqam m...
Xinjiang Series | Witty Afanti's golden revenge
12 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Gold coins appear where no one expects…Afanti and his trusty donkey are at it again, showing a greedy man that greed isn't golden. For more captiva...
Xinjiang Series | Witty Afanti buys the tree shade
09 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Meet the legendary donkey-riding Afanti, renowned for his clever solutions. With the wit sharper than any sword, Afanti can always hatch a clever plan...
Trailer｜Xinjiang Folk Tales: Ancient Legends and Fantastical Stories
05 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this new series of Chinese Folk Tales, we journey to Xinjiang — the vast and enchanting land in far northwest China, home to many ethnic groups t...
The legend behind 'Black Myth: Zhong Kui'
21 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Following "Black Myth: Wukong", the new project delves into the legend of Zhong Kui, the fierce ghost hunter of traditional Chinese folklore. For cent...
Nezha conquers the sea(video)
24 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
"Ne Zha 2" is a global hit, but in China, Nezha has been a legendary folk hero for centuries! Watch the video and discover the classic tale of "Nezha ...
The Original Tale of Blockbuster Film Character Nezha
18 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The animated blockbuster "Ne Zha 2" has made history—becoming the first Chinese and first Asian film to surpass 10 billion yuan at the box office, s...
Bonus episode: The mythical tale of the Chinese dragon (video)
10 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this video, join us on a journey through time as we unravel a story behind the legendary creature "Loong" and explore how it has come to represent ...
Bonus episode: The mythical tale of the Chinese dragon
07 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this special edition, we're waving goodbye to the Year of the Rabbit and welcoming the Year of the Loong, or the Year of the Chinese Dragon. Join u...
S3E20: Sun Moon Lake
19 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
China has some incredible landscapes and science tells us how they have been shaped over millions of years of evolution. Yes, we know about the moveme...
S3E19: The reward of truthful souls
12 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Once upon a time, there was a kind and brave young man who ventured up a mountain, fought a monster and saved a princess. This story teaches that doin...
S3E18: Mulan
28 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The ancient story of Mulan is an old favorite of many, made more popular outside China with grand movies in recent years. Join us in reliving the life...
S3E17: The Peacock Princess
21 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Do you know that for some people the peacock is a symbol of happiness? The Dai people consider it a holy bird and the traditional Peacock Dance is sti...
S3E16: Threads of wonder: When brocade comes to life
14 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
A widow is inspired to create a work of such beauty in our next tale that the fairies steal it away. But the story is really about the son's true and...
S3E15: A fantasy voyage of King Mu of Zhou
07 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, prepare to be spellbound as we explore the extraordinary adventures of King Mu of Zhou, a legendary ruler who embarked on a remarkabl...
S3E14: Divine farmer(video)
05 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In this video, let's meet the mythical hero Shen Nong who is said to be the father of the great system of traditional Chinese herbal medicine. It’s ...
S3E14: Divine farmer
31 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Our story pays tribute to the mythical hero Shen Nong who is said to be the father of the great system of traditional Chinese herbal medicine. When yo...
S3E13: Inventor Lu Ban(video)
24 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Did you know that many of the things we use today are credited to one man. Check out the video to know the tale of Lu Ban.
S3E13: Inventor Lu Ban
24 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
I bet you know all about the many, marvellous and ingenious objects Chinese inventors have created over the centuries. But did you know that many of t...
S3E12: The cowherd and the weaving maiden(video)
21 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The Qixi Festival, which is also known as Chinese Valentine's Day. In this video, we take you to discover the mythical romance between Niulang and Zhi...
S3E12: The cowherd and the weaving maiden
17 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Two lovers take center stage in our next story in one of the great Chinese Folk Tales. Join us for the romance of Zhi Nyu and Niu Lang, the weaving gi...
S3E11: The King of Huainan
10 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Our story here is a reminder not to be too self-centered. We learn how sometimes we can get so wrapped up in hunting for our own happiness that we for...
S3E10: Friendship legend
03 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Intertwined by fate and bound together through music, this is one of the most well-known stories about friendship in China. Tune in as we unravel the ...
S3E9: The horse-head fiddle
27 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
This story tells of how a great friendship led to the creation of a beautiful, historic musical instrument. Listen to the legend of Ma Tou Qin, or the...
S3E8: The tale of the Morning Star
20 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
This story is all about how sometimes when we think we have lost something precious we find it has been with us all the time.
S3E7: The miserly farmer
13 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The story serves as a cautionary tale, raising awareness about possible repercussions of being needlessly miserly.
S3E6: Laozi went out of Hangu Pass
06 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Laozi is one of the most famous ancient Chinese philosophers and in our story he tells us that money isn't everything and that maybe we should be happ...
S3E5: Why there is only one sun in the sky
29 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
When you look up into the sky –there is only one sun. But in this story, there were TEN!
S3E4: The Great Flood
21 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Stories often tell us how it's a good idea to be kind, especially to people we don't know. In this tale we find out that kindness can have more than i...
S3E3: Why Cat and Dog are Enemies
14 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Great things can happen when we work together and in this story we remember the importance of honesty, and the benefits of collaboration.
S3E2: The Three Rhymsters
08 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
What does it mean to be clever? Even if you are book smart are you really as clever as you think you are?
S3E1: The Treasure Bird
31 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
This is a story all about greed and how taking more than you need could end up costing you everything.
Season 3 Trailer
23 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Revisiting ancient and beloved Chinese Folk Tales because all the best stories have something to teach, and when we hear old folk tales once again it'...
The Chinese Cinderella
24 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
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 mot...
The boy Chen Xiang and the Lotus Lamp
14 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
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 a...
The Tale of the White Snake Fairy
09 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
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 Fest...
Lady Mengjiang weeping over the Great Wall
01 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
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...
Famous ancient Chinese weapons
23 Feb 2021
Contributed by Lukas
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 wi...
The Chinese Door Gods
18 Feb 2021
Contributed by Lukas
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...
The Eight Immortals crossing the sea
04 Feb 2021
Contributed by Lukas
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, bu...
The man who lived for 800 years
01 Feb 2021
Contributed by Lukas
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 t...
The Legend of Jiang Ziya
27 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
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 w...
The Cowherd and the Weaver Girl
21 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
People have been celebrating Valentine's Day since the year 496 in the west. Is there a similar celebration in China? Yes and no. We do have a Valenti...
Tales of Immortality and the Doughnut Peach
19 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Would anyone like to learn a thing or two about becoming an immortal? What about some pills from the Queen Mother of the West and throw in some doughn...
Monster Piggy Bank
14 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
What do you say to a gold-stuffed piggy bank? Yes, please! That's what I would say. There was such a monster according to Chinese folk tales. Its name...
Magical Plants from Ancient China
14 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
In the past few episodes, we've talked about some magical creatures in Chinese mythology, have you ever wondered if there were any magical plants? Tod...
The impartial monster Xie Zhi
14 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
After stories of evil monsters, I would like to introduce a nice and good one called “Xie Zhi”. The mythical creature looks a bit like a goat, or ...
The Greedy Monster Chaos
04 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
I'm not sure if other cultures have their symbols for greediness, in China, we have the monster named Tao Tie, the two characters also stand for a "bi...
Poor Monster Hun Tun
31 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Monsters come in all shape and sizes, but you probably haven't heard of one like this! With a name of Hun Tun, or Chaos, the monster can't be good.
The Phoenix and the Roc Bird
28 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Sure you've heard of the magical bird that arises from ashes, yes, the phoenix. But that's the ancient Greek species. In this episode, we will talk ab...
Dragons in Chinese culture
24 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Today we turn our attention from emperors and giants to magical creatures in Chinese history. The one leading the way is of course the dragon. Hard to...
Xia Dynasty and Family Under Heaven
21 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Thirty-one episodes into our podcast we are approaching the end of the ancient part of Chinese history and the start of the first known dynasty in Chi...
Great Yu and the Nine Tripods
17 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Great Yu spent years of his life taming the floods, only to have his work eaten up by a monster with nine heads...of snakes! Would it help to chop off...
The Great Yu fighting the floods
14 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
The great man Yu is so important in Chinese history that we are devoting three episodes related to him. Today's story is about how he tamed the floods...
Fighting flood with magical mud
10 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
In some sense, history is a record of the great disasters that have befallen the human race, one of which is flooding. How did ancient Chinese combat ...
Emperor Shun - peace under heaven
07 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Although it took many years, in fact decades, for Shun to eventually become the emperor, it was all worth it. There was finally peace under heaven. Ho...
The Saint Emperor Shun
03 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
What is an ideal leader like, in the minds of the Chinese people? I think the answer can be best demonstrated by learning about the two ancient Chines...
Emperor Yao, the perfect Chinese ruler
30 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
How great would someone have to be, to be remembered as virtuous, kind and magnanimous thousands of years later? In this episode and the next, we will...
Mysterious founders of Shang and Zhou dynasties
26 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
What did your Mom say when you asked her "Where did I come from"? The stories about the births of the founders of Shang and Zhou Dynasties might come ...
The emperor who separated heaven and earth, again!
23 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Separating heaven and earth, wait a minute, didn't Pangu the giant already do that? Yes, he was the first one to do so but not the last. Who else trie...
The Yellow Emperor and the Giant Xing Tian
19 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Being an emperor was no easy job, especially at a time when giants and monsters roamed the land, too. In this episode, a giant fought with the Yellow ...
The first major battle in Chinese history
16 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
The first major battle in Chinese history was the one between the Yellow Emperor and Chi You. It wasn't just a simple mortal affair though. Some inter...
Descendants of the Yan and Yellow Emperors
12 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Why do Chinese people call themselves the descendants of the Yan and Yellow Emperors? Were these emperors real or mystical?
The lady on the moon
09 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
We've spent some time talking about the great hero Hou Yi. Was this handsome archer single or already taken? In fact, he was very happily married, to ...
Hou Yi and the Seven Evils
05 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Hou Yi is a very familiar name to the Chinese people and not just because he shot down the extra nine suns. Monsters of various sorts were out there h...
Hou Yi shooting down suns
02 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Did you know there were once ten suns in the sky? At least according to Chinese mythology. That couldn't have been good. Who saved the day? It was a h...
The end of fairyland in the sea
29 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Today's story is about some Chinese fairies, who look nothing like Tinker Bell. What do they look like and what do they do all day?
The God of Spring and the God of Autumn
26 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
This story is mainly about the God of Spring and the God of Autumn, but it's much more than that. The God of one thing in ancient China could be the G...
The god of water with a short fuse
22 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
There is a saying in China that all the major rivers flow to the east. Why is that? Are there magical powers that draw them to the sea? Well, the stor...
The Sun Goddess and her ten sons
19 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
People everywhere worship the sun, but maybe only the Chinese once had ten suns instead of one. How did that work out? The story starts with their Sun...
The Foolish Old Man
15 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Every child in China has heard of Yu Gong, the Foolish Old Man. I mean, he was 90 years old when he decided to remove the two mountains in front of h...
The giant who chased the sun
12 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Today I want to tell you about the Forest Gump of ancient China, a man not really known for his sharp wits but revered for his courage and persistence...
The bird who tried to fill the ocean
08 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Growing up in China, I often heard of the story of a little bird named Jing Wei that tried to fill the ocean, one beakful of rocks and twigs at a time...
The invention of the written characters
05 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
The difficulty of learning Chinese characters might be frustrating for foreigners, but you got to admit, it's better than drawing everything out in pi...
The Fashionista Goddess of Silk
01 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
For some odd reason, raising silkworms as a "pet" was in fashion when I was in second grade and for someone who gets goose bumps from seeing worms, it...
Mr. Curious the Botanist
28 Sep 2020
Contributed by Lukas
With better housing and fire for cooking, life was a lot better. As a result of that, population grew and food supply ran short. Hunting and berry pic...
Mr. Courageous and Fire
24 Sep 2020
Contributed by Lukas
What would you say to sashimi everyday? Sounds fantastic! But wait, what if it's sashimi roots, vegetables, bloody raw kills, everything except salmon...
Mr. Handyman the Chinese Baron on the Trees
21 Sep 2020
Contributed by Lukas
It's no surprise that humans lived in caves back in the ancient times. But did you know that some also lived on trees? They were not quite tree houses...
Fu Xi and the Eight Diagrams
17 Sep 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Have you heard of the Eight Diagram from ancient China that contains the secrets of the universe? Do you know who invented nets and brought about the ...
Goddess Nv Wa saving her human babies
14 Sep 2020
Contributed by Lukas
With the creation of humans, Goddess Nv Wa was no longer lonely, but the future was not all rosy for the little human creatures. One day, without warn...
Goddess Nv Wa and her human babies
10 Sep 2020
Contributed by Lukas
The world that the Giant Pan Gu had created was beautiful, with the sun and the moon, mountains and rivers. But something was missing, something that'...
The giant Pan Gu and the beginning of the world
07 Sep 2020
Contributed by Lukas
We all know about the Big Bang Theory, but to say that our world was created from a big explosion sounds a bit too catastrophic for the taste of the a...
Season 2 Trailer
03 Sep 2020
Contributed by Lukas
A million, a billion or maybe a gazillion years ago, a giant hacked open an egg. Then there was the sky, the earth, and the world as we know……Welc...
The story of the three Ganjiers
31 Aug 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Today we have a story from the Tibetan people who live in southwest China. Once upon a time, there lived three men who all had the same name, Ganjier....
The treasure of treasures
27 Aug 2020
Contributed by Lukas
The Tibetans have a special festival called Linka. It begins on May 15 and last several days. During this period, people leave their homes and stay in...
The story of Ling Dang
24 Aug 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Ling Dang was the name of a poor boy who lost his mother when he was only five. Seven years later, his father also died. His stepmother, very much fon...
She outwitted the greedy
20 Aug 2020
Contributed by Lukas
On the grasslands of northwestern China, there lived a girl named Ageyisha and her old father. The poor family’s only possession was an ancient cow ...
The county magistrate and his three servants
17 Aug 2020
Contributed by Lukas
In old China, when a new county magistrate took office, it was customary for him to do three good deeds to win the support of the local people. In thi...
The clever farmer (part 2)
13 Aug 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Meet the clever farmer Fan Qiangshan who is hero of wisdom and courage among the Miao people of southwest China.
The clever farmer (part 1)
10 Aug 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Once there was a farmer whose name was Fan Qiangshan. He worked for a landlord. Every day he got up at dawn and returned from the fields at dusk. He w...
Third Sister Liu
06 Aug 2020
Contributed by Lukas
The Zhuang people of China have a festival called “the third day of the third month.” The Zhuang celebrate it by holding song fests in the mountai...