聊斋志异：画皮 _ Liaozhai Bedtime Story_ The Painted Skin _ Chinese Daily Podcast.

Welcome to the Chinese Daily Podcast! In tonight’s Chinese bedtime story, we will learn the language through a classic folktale: "The Painted Skin" (画皮 - Huàpí), taken from the renowned collection *Strange Tales from a Chinese Studio* (聊斋志异). Practice your Chinese listening with a slow, relaxing narrative—perfect for those at the HSK 3–HSK 4 level—and reflect on the profound wisdom of the ancients regarding superficial beauty, desire, and the deceptive traps that hide behind an alluring facade.

⏰ TIMESTAMPS:
00:00 - Relaxing bedtime introduction & new series overview
01:39 - The scholar Wang Sheng encounters a mysterious beauty in the morning mist
05:56 - A Taoist’s warning: An ominous, demonic aura surrounds the woman
08:09 - A peek through the window: A demon uses a brush to paint a human skin
11:45 - A shattered whisk and a tragic fate: The heart is torn away
13:09 - The sacrifice of the wife, Chen Shi: Enduring humiliation to beg a mad beggar for her husband’s life
16:13 - Key vocabulary review & lessons for modern life
17:39 - Closing remarks & goodnight