Cross-talk genius

Xiangsheng, a comedy form that originated in Beijing in the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) as a street art, usually involves two performers onstage.

The shows typically comprise witty talk, jokes and creative puns, and deal with topics like daily events, family life and social issues.

Speaking about the art form, Zhao Yun, a 30-year-old Beijing native, who joined Tingyunxuan in 2012 after standing out from about 150 candidates, says: "Traditional Chinese art forms, like xiangsheng, are among my favorites. Since becoming a xiangsheng actor, I enjoy the instant feedback given by the audience.

"Cao Yunjin was among the judges when I auditioned. He was already a star then. It was the first time I met him and I was very excited."

Cao, who is one of the most popular xiangsheng actors in the country, has a large fan base thanks to his solid technique and performing style. He has nearly 3 million fans on his Sina Weibo account.

The actor, who was born in Tianjin, was raised mostly by his mother－who now lives with him in Beijing－as his father, who was an engineer, died when Cao was 13 years old.