Free resource
微信读书 (WeChat Reading)
My notes
Access to a huge library of Chinese-language books with good reading UX on mobile. At HSK4–5 level this is where you start reading things you'd actually choose to read, not just study materials. Easily findable on any app store.
微信读书 was where I transitioned from reading material designed for learners to reading things I actually wanted to read. I started with shorter non-fiction and news-format content before moving to full-length books, and the app's bookmark and highlight features made it easy to build a vocabulary list from each session. The library is enormous and skews toward contemporary Chinese publishing, which meant I was encountering current vocabulary rather than period-specific or textbook-elevated language. At HSK4–5 level, this is the most natural way to start reading like a reader rather than a student.