What Ximalaya is and who listens
Ximalaya is a Chinese audio app for audiobooks, podcasts, courses and radio-style shows. Most of its listeners speak Mandarin, and they come for categories such as web fiction, history, business and children’s stories. Content is organised into albums made of tracks: for an audiobook, the album is the book and each track is a chapter.
That shapes the plan. An English audiobook has a small audience there, so most authors who publish on Ximalaya do it in Mandarin, either because they write in Chinese or because they hold the rights to a Chinese translation. If your book is in English, secure the translation and its audio rights first, and treat Ximalaya as a separate Chinese edition.
Rights and account checks before you upload
Most failed uploads on Chinese audio platforms come down to rights or account verification, not audio quality.
- You hold the audio rights. Your own book, a public domain text or a written licence from the rights holder. Platforms may ask for proof, and audiobook rights explains the basics.
- Translation rights, if relevant. A Chinese translation is a copyrighted work in its own right, so you need permission from the translator or publisher as well as the original author.
- Real-name verification. Chinese platforms generally require identity verification for creators, often with a mainland phone number. Check what the creator platform asks for in your situation.
- Content review. Uploads are reviewed against platform rules and Chinese content regulations, and some topics are restricted. Read the creator guidelines before you produce the audio.
- A plan for payment. If you want to earn, check which payout methods and tax documents are supported for your country.
How to publish an audiobook on Ximalaya, step by step
- 1
Open a creator account
Register in the Ximalaya app or on its creator platform and complete verification.
- 2
Create an album
Add the book title, a square cover, a category, tags and a description. The album page is what listeners see first.
- 3
Upload the chapters
Upload one audio file per chapter as tracks, titled with the chapter number and name so they sort in order.
- 4
Label AI content
Mark AI-generated audio as the platform requires and say so near the top of the album description.
- 5
Publish or schedule
Release the chapters all at once or on a schedule. Serial releases suit long web novels and keep listeners coming back.
Labelling AI voices on Chinese audio platforms
China has introduced national rules on labelling AI-generated content, and platforms such as Ximalaya apply them through their own user agreements and creator rules. At the time of writing, that means AI-narrated audio should carry a clear label, both through any setting the upload form offers and in the album description. Check the current creator guidelines, because the details are still evolving.
Labelling also helps with listeners. Ximalaya’s audience is used to human narrators and voice actors, and a clear note such as “AI 配音” (AI voice) or “AI narration” heads off complaints. A full cast with a distinct voice for each character is usually better received than one flat voice reading everything.
Ximalaya album setup at a glance
| Element | What to prepare | Tip |
|---|---|---|
| Album title | The book title, in Chinese for a Chinese edition | Add the series name if it is part of one |
| Cover | A square image with large Chinese title text | Readable at thumbnail size in the app |
| Category and tags | The closest genre plus a few accurate tags | Tags drive discovery, so avoid unrelated ones |
| Description | A short pitch, the author credit and the AI label | Put the label near the top |
| Track files | One audio file per chapter; MP3 is a safe choice | Files are usually transcoded after upload |
| Track titles | Chapter number and name | Consistent numbering so tracks sort correctly |
| Release plan | All at once or scheduled | Scheduled serials suit long web novels |
Accepted formats, size limits and fields change. Check the creator platform’s current help pages before you prepare files. For pixel dimensions, see the audiobook cover size guide.
How a Ximalaya creator earns money
At the time of writing, Ximalaya has offered creators several ways to earn, such as paid albums, a share of membership revenue, listener tips and advertising programs, each with its own eligibility rules. New accounts usually start with free content and unlock paid options as they grow or sign agreements with the platform.
Read the current creator terms before you plan income, especially from outside China, since payout methods, contracts and tax handling can differ. Many authors treat a first album as a way to build an audience, then decide on paid releases once they know how listeners respond.
Producing Ximalaya audiobooks with Chinese AI voices
The voice library covers 13 languages including Chinese, so you can narrate a Chinese edition with a narrator and separate character voices. English voices are the most polished, so listen closely to Chinese chapters, especially for names, characters with more than one reading and invented terms. Any line that sounds wrong can be edited and regenerated on its own.
Paste each chapter’s text, or upload a DOCX that uses Heading 1 for chapter titles, then export one MP3 per chapter to upload as tracks. Cultivation stories and web fiction do well on Chinese platforms, and the xianxia audiobook and web novel to audiobook pages show how to keep one cast across hundreds of chapters. Start with the AI audiobook generator and a short sample using gift credits.
Other Chinese audio platforms to consider
Ximalaya is not the only option. Other Chinese audio apps, such as Qingting FM, and the audio sections of large reading platforms also carry audiobooks, each with its own verification, rights and AI rules. If you hold Chinese audio rights, compare where your genre is strongest before committing to one, and check whether any agreement you sign is exclusive.
