Biting, playful — daring comedians let new generation laugh at itself

Brave enough to try

Comedy also takes topics once hidden in the shadows into the open and sparking public conversations.

Fang Zhuren is a housewife who quietly endured an abusive marriage for 30 years before walking away and rebuilding her life through comedy. She infuses her performances with biting black humor and a distinct personal voice.

"Domestic violence is such a heavy topic. Only someone who lived through it could make you laugh and ache at the same time. That's Fang Zhuren's gift — she makes the unbearable speakable," commented one of her fans on social media.

Xi Ha, a former national-level athlete who later became a flight attendant, now uses her comedy to critique unrealistic beauty standards and public expectations. With sharp wit, she jokes about uncomfortable uniforms — short skirts, stockings, and high heels — and air passengers' unreasonable demands.

"She's not just funny, she's fearless. She'll talk about beauty standards, the workplace revolution, and passengers' sense of entitlement — all while wearing heels and making you choke on your drink," wrote a fan.

Xi said she chose to talk about these things because she thought they were funny. "I chose comedy because they (the subjects) really are funny, in a dark way," said Xi, who logged over 10,000 hours as a flight attendant, and participated in special aid missions like post-earthquake relief in Kathmandu, Nepal.

"I don't think there's anything particularly special about what I do. I don't call it a 'female perspective'. What I observe isn't about gender — it's about society," she said, adding that it's not just the stereotype of flight attendants she wants to challenge.

At 21, Xie Xie is one of the youngest rising comedy stars. He gained a loyal fan base after appearing on the second season of The King of Stand-up Comedy, which premiered on July 11 on iQIYI.

His material about high school life — including strict rules, stern teachers, and awkward moments — instantly struck a chord.

"I was overwhelmed by the audience response. After the show, I got more chances to perform not just in Beijing, but in cities across the country. It felt like a dream," said Xie, a second-year journalism student at Peking University, where he also heads the campus stand-up comedy club.

The routine, written a year ago, won him first prize in a stand-up comedy competition.

Xie was first introduced to comedy watching the 2012 TV program Tonight 80's Talk Show, which focused on the lives of young Chinese people. Later, he watched stand-up shows online, which inspired him to try performing himself.

"Stand-up isn't just a performance, it becomes a way of life. The more you do it, the more your thinking changes. When something bad happens, my first thought is: 'Can I turn this into a joke?' That mindset helps me stay positive."