Beginner journey
Start gently with Chapter 0
Welcome in. China Journey begins like opening a calm story scroll: one sound, one character, one small story at a time. You do not need to speak Chinese already — Lesson 1 is the recommended first step for every playtester and complete beginner.
1
recommended first lesson
8
short Chapter 0 lessons
10 min
first playtest target
Start here · Playable now
Lesson 1: How Chinese Works
If you are testing China Journey, begin here first. This lesson introduces the basic idea of characters, Mandarin and Cantonese sounds, audio practice, a mini quiz, and your first collected characters.
A calm first chapter
Earn XP to level up your language skills as you travel through Chinese language, culture, and heritage. Chapter 0 is playable now: start with Lesson 1, then continue only if it feels clear and enjoyable. Panda Path, Dragon Path, Chengyu Path, Dutch family mode, richer map quests, accounts, and cloud progress are planned later.
Chapter 0 roadmap
Follow the path, one step at a time
Lesson 1 is the main playtest focus. Later lessons stay locked until the previous lesson is completed, so the beginner journey opens one step at a time.
启程 / 啟程
How Chinese Works
A gentle first step for complete beginners: characters, sounds, tones, and meaning.
Complete lesson to earn 25 XP →
The Name “China”
Start with the names outsiders and insiders used for China.
Unlocks after Lesson 1
Zhongguo, Huaxia, and Han
Explore cultural identity before modern nationality.
Unlocks after Lesson 2
Mandarin, Cantonese, and Chinese Languages
Understand why Chinese can sound so different across regions.
Unlocks after Lesson 3
Oracle Bones and the Birth of Chinese Writing
Meet the Shang dynasty and the earliest Chinese writing.
Unlocks after Lesson 4
Traditional and Simplified Chinese
Learn where Chinese writing comes from, why 國 became 国, and why Mandarin became the standard public language.
Unlocks after Lesson 5
Ancient Capitals — From Chang’an to Beijing
See how China’s political center moved over time.
Unlocks after Lesson 6
Provinces and Regions Preview
Unlock the idea that every region has its own story.
Unlocks after Lesson 7
Ready for first testers
Try Chapter 0 in 10 minutes
BeginChinese is still an early prototype. The goal is simple: can a complete beginner understand where to start, finish Lesson 1, and feel curious enough to continue?
1
Open the journey
2
Complete Lesson 1
3
Send feedback
Ask testers to focus on clarity, warmth, audio/pronunciation, quiz flow, badges, and whether the first chapter feels inviting rather than overwhelming.
Locked and planned for later
These are roadmap ideas, not current playable paths. They should stay locked until Chapter 0 feels good from start to finish.