In the fall of 2012, Satoshi Nishida, a Japanese exchange student from Kyoto, was captivated by a double act comedy show at Beijing Language and Culture University.

Nishida found the performance electrifying yet familiar, reminiscent of manzai, a comedic style from Japan's Kansai region.

It set him on a journey to learn more about the Chinese-style crosstalk, or xiangsheng, one of the most popular forms of comedy in China.

"If I can use Mandarin to provoke laughter from local people, that would be an extraordinary achievement," Nishida said.

For Yegor Shyshov from Ukraine, a similar revelation occurred at a Mandarin speaking competition in 2010.He marveled at a group of foreigners who spoke Mandarin fluently and made the audience laugh heartily.

"I couldn't grasp half of their jokes at the time," he said, "but I was astonished that foreigners could deliver such emotionally compelling Chinese."

Driven by their shared ambition to learn the Chinese language through humor, the two foreigners from across the world embarked on a similar path, training with renowned xiangsheng artist Ding Guangquan, who began accepting foreign apprentices in 1989. Ding passed away in 2018.

For comedian Tina Huang, who is of Chinese and Russian descent, Chinese cross-talk helped put her in the limelight. Together with Chinese xiangsheng artist Yan Jiabao, Huang gained recognition at a 2016 show at the Beijing Radio & Television Station with their performance, Love, To Be In or To Be Out.

Huang's authentic Beijing accent and engaging stage presence made a lasting impression, marking her first few steps onto the xiangsheng scene.

Through xiangsheng lovers Nishida, Shyshov, Huang and many others, the groundbreaking show Xiangsheng Encounters Foreigners emerged. The program debuted in 2019 in Beijing's vibrant 798 Art District, a hub for contemporary art. It offered a platform for Chinese xiangsheng actors to work with foreign comedians passionate about Chinese culture.

The unique mix showcased a novel cultural dimension of the traditional art form, combining xiangsheng with various international influences and languages.

Yan, who founded the program's team, said its early days were modest, consisting of just seven or eight members.

"At times, we had to invite xiangsheng performers from outside our group to complete a show," he said.

Over the years, the troupe has expanded significantly. It now counts nearly 50 members, covering Asia, Europe, Africa, North America and Oceania. They currently perform at the GG2077 Space Station Theater in Beijing's China World Mall.

Breaking barriers

Despite its rich history, xiangsheng faces challenges such as a creative slump, shortage of talented performers and dwindling artistic standards, and revitalizing the art form requires a collective effort and willingness to adapt, Yan said.

"For cross-talk to win the affection of audiences, it needs to keep up with the times in both content and format," he said.

Many fans say the Xiangsheng Encounters Foreigners show pioneers a new format that transcends the traditional art form, presenting a comedy variety show that blends stand-up, sketch comedy and original cross-talk.

But the path to the creative breakthrough was not always smooth — Yan recalled early performances at the 798 Art District, where the performers struggled to draw audiences.

"Sometimes only a few people would buy tickets and, with our friends included, there were barely a dozen people in the audience," he said.

Still, those trying times fueled the comedians' determination. "Accepting something new always takes time," Yan said.

Adaptability is essential in the field, especially given the team's diverse cultural backgrounds, and unlike traditional xiangsheng in which the partners of a performance are fixed, their team constantly reconfigured their lineup, requiring members to adjust and collaborate effectively, he said.

Huang also emphasized the importance of "cultural conflict" in their work. "All our performances are built on cultural differences and there wouldn't be any creative friction without them," she said. "It's this friction that fuels our inspiration."

Striking chords

In July 2023, the team hosted a performance featuring renowned xiangsheng artist Jiang Kun, who was deeply impressed by the onstage collaboration.

"I had never seen anything like it before," Jiang said. "So many foreigners engaging in light-hearted banter while showcasing genuine cross-talk."

This performance attracted the largest and most diverse audience yet, with attendees from Russia, Ukraine, Japan, and the United States. For Yan, it highlighted how laughter can transcend differences and unite people in joy.

The cultural blending enriches the comedy scene, as elements from different backgrounds come together on stage, and Yan said that they have recently incorporated other cultural themes into their cross-talk performances, such as Japanese manzai and Russian poet Pushkin's lines.

"Some foreign friends come to watch our shows and we include interactive segments to make them feel at home," Yan said.

"They see familiar faces from their own countries, creating an atmosphere that feels like a party. This offers a unique perspective for foreigners studying or working in China, showing them that there's joy to be found here."

As a traditional Chinese performance art, xiangsheng can also weave cultural nuances that deepen foreign performers' understanding of Chinese society.

"My master always tells us that performing cross-talk involves more than just memorizing lines; it requires experiencing the culture firsthand," Nishida said.

He recalled visiting a Tong Ren Tang medicinal store to grasp the essence of traditional Chinese medicine and better understand the terms related to the herbs for cross-talk.

Shyshov recounted a touching moment after a cross-talk competition, when an older member of the audience praised their work.

"The audience told us that what we did was cross-talk in its truest form," Shyshov said.

Looking ahead

The value of live performances has never been clearer in an age dominated by digital screens, Yan said.

"By attending shows in person, audiences support the art form in its most authentic and rewarding way," he said.

At the performance venue, comedy lovers gather like family, sharing joy and laughter. Over time, xiangsheng has woven itself into the lives of its performers, providing emotional fulfillment that transcends financial gain, he said.

Yan also acknowledged the need for financial stability to nurture their creative efforts in a competitive landscape.

"A steady stream of ticket buyers is essential for retaining talent and fostering innovation," he said.

Nishida said he is confident of the unifying power of comedy.

"I understand how challenging it is for a Japanese person to learn cross-talk in China, but my master, Ding Guangquan, always emphasized that art knows no boundaries," he said.

"Xiangsheng gives me the chance to meet young Chinese performers and friends from around the world. Before coming to China, I never imagined I would stand on stage and make a Chinese audience laugh. Being Japanese or Chinese doesn't matter. We must first understand each other. To me, this is a truly magical connection," Nishida said.

Shyshov looked to the future of xiangsheng with hope. "I hope that years from now, when we can no longer perform, our students will become the teachers. This art form must be passed down through generations," he said.

Huang echoed the sentiment and wished for the continued growth of their collaborative efforts.

"We hope what we've created together, like a cherished work or even a child, can flourish," she said.

Yan expressed a simple yet profound goal: "I want to accompany these foreign friends who love Chinese comedy, attract more foreigners to China and inspire even more people abroad to appreciate our culture. If Xiangsheng Encounters Foreigners achieves this, then we've succeeded."

He pointed to a world where shared futures and connections are vital.

"What does it mean to have a community with a shared future? It's about everyone sitting together, joking and laughing, regardless of nationality or ethnicity," Yan said.

Lu Huimin and Xu Yuxin contributed to this story.