In 2017 Ma Zhiming celebrated his 60th anniversary as a xiangsheng performer and then withdrew from the limelight.

He made a rare appearance during a reality show produced by Tianjin Satellite TV, titled Laugh Out Loud, which presents the history of xiangsheng and promotes young xiangsheng comedians.

The producer, Liu Yang, says the first season of the show paid tribute to older xiangsheng masters, and the second one, which premiered on Oct 6, focused on younger performers.

Through competitions and joined by veteran comedians such as Ma Zhiming, Gong Hanlin and Guo Donglin, the 13-episode series brings together about 40 groups of xiangsheng performers from cities including: Beijing; Tianjin; Shijiazhuang, Hebei province; Xi'an, Shaanxi; and Hangzhou, Zhejiang.

"We spent more than a year seeking out xiangsheng comedians who perform at teahouses and clubs across the country," Liu says. "All are less than 40 years old, the youngest in their early 20s. We're keen to show how vibrant this traditional art form is."