Stand-up comic Storm Xu. [Photo/CCTV.com]

In Shanghai, residents and tourists alike are warming up to the idea of stand-up comedy at a popular venue in the city.

A quick jog, with the music as companion. 27-year-old Storm Xu is warming up, but not to hit the gym. Storm, is about to open his stand-up act at the Kung Fu Komedy Club in Shanghai. Hidden in a cosy back room of a sports bar in the city, it is under the spotlight where Storm finds his "inner self".

"This is the only place I can be like real. I mean, I can say whatever in my mind," he said.

After he graduated from college in Australia three years ago, Storm came back to Shanghai and began working as a motor mechanic. Getting hooked on stand-up comedy abroad, Storm knew he wanted a crack at it. He approached Kung Fu Komedy club for his debut, and quickly became a regular on their stage.

"Let the world see what a young generation of Chinese guy thinks and looks like, what he wants to do, what’s his perspective about the globe, the whole world," he said.

The club is the only full-time comedy club in the Chinese mainland. It offers regular open mics three times a week - two in English, one in Chinese, as well as additional performances from professionals from across the world.

"This is pretty good for free comedy. New York always has a drink minimum. The joke is as good as that in New York, if it is not any better than New York," said Mike Custer, an audience member.

There were very few Chinese in the audience when the club began. However, with more Chinese with overseas experience moving back to Shanghai, the proportion of Chinese in the audience is getting larger.

"It is great fun. I like the way they perform, and the performers are brilliant," said Du Haiyan, an audience member.

"I come here from time to time. Maybe I will tell my jokes one day," said He Lin, an audience member.

Despite the culture gap and language differences, a good laugh is what this place is about.

"Good comedians write good joke that’s personal but anyone can get. So I think the cultural gap is more about how good the comedian is at bridging them," said Andy Curtain, founder of Kung Fu Komedy Club.

Making jokes of ourselves, seeing the world from new perspectives and sharing a hearty laughter, that’s why it gathers people from all walks of life here, because a sense of humor will always make your life easier.

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