The only foreigners who get into it are youngsters looking to win Mandarin competitions. Xiangsheng, or crosstalk, reflects the soul of Chinese wit. It relies heavily on puns, allusions, and double entendres, so that only native speakers laugh at it. So by all means leave it off your cultural acquisition agenda.

Unless, that is, you are seeking the fastest route to being a Chinese media darling. Imagine the potential star power of a fresh-off-the boat Chinese on American Idol who can sing like James Brown, riff like Chris Rock, and does a mean Obama imitation to boot. Now multiply that by the factor at which Chinese people appreciate a foreigner who actually digs their culture. It worked for Dashan, whose star rose on the CCTV New Years Eve Special in 1989, when he did a three-man xiangsheng. The following  translated xiangsheng probably won't make you laugh, but should give you a taste of what it's all about.

A: Ah, to become a xiangsheng actor!

B: Uh huh...

A: It's not easy.

B: Why?

A: You have to at least know how to talk.

B: This requirement is quite easy.

A: Yeah?

B: Who doesn't know how to talk?

A: Well, there's talking and there's talking.

B: What do you mean?

A: Normally, you're only expressing yourself so that people understand you.

B: And what about xiangsheng?

A: Xiangsheng is an art, so you have to use artistic language.

B: Oh.

A: Artistic language has a huge difference from ever day language.

B: I see.

A: Xiangsheng language must be precise.

B: Ahhhh...

A: Even though we all speak Beijing dialect...

B: Right...

A: Xiangsheng is not the normal Beijing dialect, it's more precise.

B: Hmmmm....

A: Expressions must be filtered into something finer.

B: Uh huh...

A: Xiangsheng lines must be delivered precisely.

B: Eh?

A: Xiangsheng language is concise, calculated for impact.

B: Right.

A: Just listen to Putonghua; people from other provinces can understand it.

B: Oh.

A: And why is that?

B: It is....

A: Because Putonghua has an artistic element.

B: Ahhhh....

A: It's not like local Beijing talk.

B: Oh.

A: For example, if you and me live in the same courtyard, one in the east rooms and one in the west rooms...

B: Uh huh...

A: In the evening we both sleep, but if one room's door makes noise, people in the other room will notice.

B: Ahhh...

A: If these two talk, one could explain the incident very simply, but if you use old Beijing language, things could get complicated!

B: Really? How?

A: In the evening, everyone's asleep, when a door slams, and someone notices.

B: Yes?

A: Aiyo!

B: Aiyo?

A: Aiyo! It's so late; who could be about slamming doors and scaring me?

B: Oh. Such a lengthy speech!

A: The answer could also be this long.

B: Ohhh? Oh!

A: Ahhhhh, brother it's me! You're still awake? I just came out to pee. There's nobody else. Take it easy. Don't be scared.

B: That's even longer than the last speech! What else does he have to say?

A: Oh it's already very late! Put some clothes on or tomorrow you'll have a fever!

B: Mmmm...

A: Don't worry brother! I have clothes on already. I'll come right back after I pee. Sleep well and we'll talk tomorrow.

B: How many words can this conversation go on for?

A: More than three hundred words, easily.

B: Uh huh...

A: If you use precise Beijing language...

B: Uh huh....

A: Those four sentences would only need a total of sixteen characters.

B: Only four characters for each sentence?

A: That's right.

B: How is that possible?

A: When the door slams and the first person asks the question, "Who is that there?"

B: Right, four characters.

A: The answer can also be four characters, " It is me, you."

B: Mmm...

A: "What are you doing?"

A: "I need to pee."

B:  Hey, that is much easier!

A: You think that this is easier?

B: Of course.

A: There's an even easier way...

B: Which language?

A: Shandong dialect!

B: Oh?

A: When Shandong people want to explain these things...

B: Uh huh...

A: It's the same four sentences, but they only use twelve characters!

B: Twelve characters? Then every sentence only uses three!

A: That's right.

B: How would that work?

A: The door slams, and one person says, "Who is it?"

B: That's three.

A: The answer would be, "It is me."

B: Hmmm

A: "Where you going?"

A: "To the toilet."

B: That is simpler.

A: You know, there's an even simpler way.

B: Which dialect?

A: Shanghai.

B: Shanghai?

A: With Shanghai people, eight characters will be enough.

B: Oh? Two characters per sentence?

A: Yes.

B: How's that?

A: When the door slams, "What person?"

A: Then the answer, "Just me."

A: Then the next question, "What matter?"

A: Then the answer, "Go pee."

B: Interesting.

A: I bet you've guessed there's a way to say it even shorter. Henan dialect only needs four characters for the four sentences.

B: One character per sentence? Incredible.

A: Yes indeed.

B: Tell me.

A: "Who?" "Me." "What?" "Pee."

B: That's local dialect for you.