Audience members explode with laughter at a show held by Danliren, a Beijing-based stand-up comedy club.  [Photo provided to China Daily]

Kun says she is an innately sensitive individual, which she long regarded as a flaw in her character. Yet she began to regard it as a positive quality after taking to the stage and performing as an amateur comedian.

"A good comic should know how to create a bond with the audience, whether through riffing or maintaining eye contact," she explains. "During a performance, I am sensitive enough to be able to assess people's attitude toward me from the changes in their facial expressions, which helps me adjust my act and better connect with the audience."

Shan Lijie, 31, says he learned the basic principles of comedy from watching stand-up online, which comes in useful in daily conversations with work colleagues and friends.

"I consciously use the structure of joke telling when I'm chatting with people, and it helps to smooth over the cracks when it comes to interpersonal relations," says Shan.

He also wowed his colleagues by performing a stand-up routine at his company's annual party last year.

"Stand-up is an approachable art form that can bring about an outpouring of joy and help us stay closer together," adds Shan.