XiMaLaYa Review 🎧 Free Podcasts to Learn Chinese

How You too Can Learn Chinese Through Audio with XiMaLaYa
(for 2023)

If you don’t have time to buy and read Chinese books, this XiMaLaYa review will show you one of the greatest apps to improve your listening skills.

With a very impressive 4.8 out of 5 on the app store and over 4000 XiMaLaYa Reviews, they are certainly getting a lot of attention in China and internationally.

To find this app you can search ‘XiMaLaYa’ or if you have a Chinese keyboard on your phone search 喜馬拉雅.

This XIMaLaYa review goes pretty in-depth.
Skip ahead to the part relevant to you!

XiMaLaYa // What is it?

XiMaLaYa // Getting Started

XiMaLaYa // Signing Up

XiMaLaYa // Categories

XiMaLaYa // Kids Resources

XiMaLaYa // Suggested Podcasts

XiMaLaYa // Languages

XiMaLaYa // Where to Download

XiMaLaYa // FAQs

XiMaLaYa Review // Introduction

In 2018, there were 425 million podcast listeners in China.

iiMedia Research

XiMaLaYa allows users to listen to podcasts, books, lectures and more!

They have an incredible 6.12 million daily active users who are spending an average of 125 minutes listening to their audio files.

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XiMaLaYa Review // Getting Started

You can access XiMaLaYa through their website XiMaLaYa, Apple App Store and Google Play.

The website gives the added benefit of being easily translated by Google Chrome into your native language.

The first thing the app will want to know when you launch it for the first time is your gender and what decade you were born in.

This will help it make suggestions for your age and gender.

Don’t worry, it doesn’t put you in a box right away…

There are loads of custom search features to come!

XiMaLaYa Review // Signing Up

There is no need to sign up to XiMaLaYa!

You can launch the website or app right now and start streaming! You can stream anything from XiMaLaYa so long as you have cell reception or wifi.

The only downside to not signing up is you can’t download episodes. Meaning you won’t be able to take a flight or go for a hike in the mountains and listen to XiMaLaYa’s podcasts offline.

To create an account click 喜马拉雅. Make sure you use an active mobile number when you sign up as they send you an activation code.

You don’t need to submit any other personal data like email or credit card.

XiMaLaYa Review // XiMaLaYa’s Categories

The first thing you’re presented with when you open the app is the most popular and trending items.

This is a great place to start and get a feel for the app. However, XiMaLaYa’s greatest strength comes from the huge variety of options under its categories.

Categories and sub-categories include:

From these categories, you’re able to listen to podcasts, audiobooks and more!

XiMaLaYa Review // Kids Resources

The Children’s stories tab is the best place for kids learning Chinese.

You will notice a lot of shows your kids would already be watching like Pepper Pig, The Magic School Bus, Dr Seuss and more!

These are a great way to get your kids excited about learning Chinese!

Most popular kids’ books in English and Chinese on XiMaLaYa! Use Bing/ Google translate to find your favourite kids audiobooks in Chinese.

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XiMaLaYa Review // Suggested Podcasts

When you first launch the app, the most popular titles will come up in the suggested feed.

You can go into different categories or use the search bar to look for a specific topic.

After using the search you’ll be presented with an album cover like a square image of the options under that category.

In the bottom right of the image, you’ll see a set of white headphones with the number of plays that podcast/audio cover has.

This will give you an idea of the more popular podcasts/ audiobooks in this category. However, don’t judge an audiobook by its cover! There are plenty of less popular gems to be found lower in the search.

We can’t end this XiMaLaYa review without a few podcast recommendations!

XiMaLaYa Review // Languages

While this XiMaLaYa Review is talking about Chinese audio there are also resources in English, Japanese Korean, Thai, German, Russian and Spanish.

Even if you are listening to a podcast on another platform, it’s worth searching for podcasts you’re interested in as XiMaLaYa boast shorter waiting time with advertisements.

Want us to review your favourite APP? Let us know which one in the comments below.

XiMiLaYa // FAQs

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