As with Peking Opera, the training for xiangsheng is highly disciplined and harsh. Young comedians studied under a xiangsheng master for at least three years and performed with the teacher to gain experience of mastering the techniques onstage and of communicating with the audiences before striking out on their own. The basic skills of xiangsheng include shuo (talking), xue (imitating), dou (teasing) and chang (singing).

Five years after Ma Zhiming took up Peking Opera, one of his teachers broke the news to him that there was no way that he would ever become a leading player because his voice simply was not good enough.

"Why not learn xiangsheng from your father?" the teacher asked. "With Ma Sanli's background surely you'd have a smooth path?"

Ma Zhiming replied: "I do love xiangsheng but my father taught me nothing about it. He wanted his children to be independent and make a living on their own. I picked up what I knew about xiangsheng just by observing and imitating those doing it."

Recognizing his son's obvious passion for xiangsheng and his ability to retain and recite complicated lines, Ma Sanli agreed and let him work at Tianjin Traditional Folk Arts Troupe, home to many great performers, and Ma Zhiming would become an apprentice to Zhu Kuoquan, who had taught Hou Baolin. Soon, at the age of 17, Ma Zhiming would make his stage debut as a xiangsheng performer.