"Tianjin has a great fan base for xiangsheng because of its long history with the old art form," says Yan Chang, 24, who was born and raised in Luoyang, Henan province, and spent four years in Tianjin while studying public communication at Nankai University.

"Tianjin people are born with humor, and even the local dialect is rhythmic and fun to hear," Yan says.

She says she loves talking with taxi drivers, who tune into xiangsheng radio programs everyday as a way of relaxing during their long hours of working.

"The shows in teahouses have become so popular that it is often hard to get a ticket," says Zhou Yue, who works with Qianxiangyi teahouse, a popular destination for xiangsheng in Tianjin.

The teahouse, established more than 100 years ago, offers 14 xiangsheng shows a week, with ticket prices ranging from 80 yuan ($11) to 120 yuan. From Monday to Friday, 80 percent of the seats are full, and during the weekend it enjoys a full house.

"Audiences not only come from Tianjin but also Beijing and other cities," Zhou says. "These are people who want to enjoy authentic Tianjin xiangsheng. With a pot of tea and some snacks, like watermelon seeds and mahua (fried dough twists), you can have a great day with laughs because xiangsheng makes you happy."