Who runs Baulchino, is it free, and how can I contribute or report issues?

Baulchino (baulchino.com) is an independent Mandarin learning resource site built around HSK study materials. The site's own About page identifies an author and links to a Roadmap, and its Supporters section credits people who "supported me on this journey" — language that points to a single-maintainer project rather than a company. On cost, the site's Q&A includes an entry asking "How much does it cost?", and the HSK Books section explicitly offers downloads "for free," so the core study materials are presented as free to download. The site also lists two ways to get involved: donating or contributing to the project, and a Q&A entry for proposing a tool or module idea, plus one for reporting errors or annoying behavior. The sections below cover what each of these means in practice.

Who runs Baulchino

The site describes itself as "your go-to resource for learning Mandarin Chinese," providing "high-quality teaching materials." Two pages carry the operational detail:

• About — "information about the author and Baulchino."
• Roadmap — a separate page linked from the main navigation, indicating planned development.

The Supporters section thanks contributors by name (Star Leo, Vanyafresita, Asem Altarefi, and many others) and states: "You can appear in this section by donation or contributing to the project." The phrasing "all the people who have supported me on this journey" is first-person singular, consistent with an individual maintainer. The site does not name a company, team, or organization behind it in the available material.

Is it free?

The available evidence points to free access for the core materials, with donations as the support model:

Note the limit of this: the site's Q&A contains a cost question, but the excerpt provided does not include its answer. So while "free" is stated directly for HSK book downloads, treat the full cost picture — for example, whether any tool or module is gated — as something to confirm on the Q&A page itself. Nothing in the material suggests a login requirement or a paid subscription.

What you can access

The site organizes materials into these modules:

• HSK Books — Levels 1–6, free download
• New HSK 3.0 Books (2026) — updated curriculum
• HSK Audio Files — audio for each textbook and workbook unit
• New HSK 3.0 Audios (2026) — audio for the new curriculum
• Download all HSK audio files — bulk audio download
• HSK Mock Test — downloadable bundles or an online simulation
• Chinese Learning Channels — curated YouTube channels
• Anki Decks — HSK 1–4 vocabulary decks
• Hanzi Writing — stroke order and radicals
• Chinese Calligraphy Templates — downloadable practice templates
• Hanzi Practice Template Generator — customized exercise generation

If your goal is exam preparation, the HSK Books, Audio Files, and Mock Test modules form a complete loop: study the text, drill the listening, then test. If your goal is handwriting, the Hanzi Writing, Templates, and Generator modules cover it.

How to contribute or report issues

The site names two contribution paths and two feedback paths:

Contributing

1. Donate — the Supporters section states you can appear there "by donation."
2. Contribute to the project — listed as the alternative to donating for supporter recognition.

Feedback

1. Propose an idea — the Q&A includes "How can I propose an idea for a tool or module?"
2. Report a problem — the Q&A includes "I found an error or annoying behavior."

Both feedback entries exist as Q&A items, which means the site has a stated channel for each. The excerpt does not show the specific contact method (form, email, or repository), so check the Q&A page for the actual mechanism before assuming how to submit.

Practical takeaways

• If you want free HSK study materials: start with HSK Books and HSK Audio Files; the site states the books are free to download.
• If you want to support the project: donation or contribution both lead to supporter recognition, per the Supporters section.
• If something is broken or you have a tool idea: the Q&A has dedicated entries for both — use those rather than guessing at a contact address.
• If cost matters beyond book downloads: read the Q&A's "How much does it cost?" answer directly, since the excerpt doesn't include it.

The site's own motto — 好好学习, 天天向上 ("Study hard, improve every day") — fits its positioning as a study-material hub rather than a course platform.