Over the National Day holiday, a "comedy triangle" emerged in Qingdao's Shangjieli, highlighting the area's thriving comedy scene.

The Yuexikelai cross-talk garden "Qingdao Quyi Club", Mahua Funage's immersive dinner comedy Stealing Hearts Banquet at the TTAC 22 Century Concert Hall, and the resident stand-up comedy "Clam Comedy" at the Zhongshan Road China Cinema have been drawing large and young audiences, embracing a variety of comedy formats, from traditional to modern.

Actor Huang Bo makes a special appearance in the parade at the Qingdao Liyuan Comedy Festival in Shinan district. [Photo/Qingdao Morning Paper]

The Qingdao Liyuan Comedy Festival, co-founded by renowned actors Huang Bo and Huang Xiaoming, both from Qingdao, offered a diverse program with both established comedians and prestigious comedy troupes. The festival showcased a wide array of comedic styles, from Sichuan opera and mime to improvisational and physical comedy, as well as American sketch and traditional Chinese forms, thereby enriching the cultural tapestry of Qingdao.

Comedians emphasized the importance of the audience-comedian connection. Actor Huang compared the Qingdao liyuan to Beijing's hutong (alleyways) and Shanghai's nongtang (narrow alley), while Pi Pen from Hotpot Improv Comedy noted the significance of audience interaction in improvisational comedy. The liyuan's architectural form provides an immersive atmosphere, making it an ideal venue for comedy performances.

"If a city is closely associated with an art form, it can create a mention effect in advertising, such as when we think of a certain drink as soon as we mention carbonated beverages. If the Qingdao Liyuan Comedy Festival continues to be held, the association between Qingdao and comedy can exert tremendous charm," said director Che Zhe.