The exterior of the National Center for the Performing Arts in Beijing. [Photo/China Daily]

Beijing and Tianjin are the two most important centers for xiangsheng. The capital is the hometown of renowned exponents such as Hou Baolin (1917-93), while masters like Ma Sanli (1914-2003) were born in Tianjin. Because of the cities' proximity, performers frequently compare and exchange styles and techniques, and have a common audience base.

Yang's troupe faces no pressure from rental payments, as he leads it in performances at teahouses in Tianjin.

"Obviously, we may gain a fan base with online performances, but I think that theaters are still the main venues to keep xiangsheng alive," he said.

Meanwhile, Li Yangduo, who owns the Drum Tower West Theatre, tucked away in hutongs near the Gulou area of Beijing and which stages contemporary plays, was planning to celebrate its sixth anniversary last month, but had to cancel the arrangements due to the outbreak.

On April 17, Li posted an open letter on the venue's social media platform, stating that it was facing a severe financial struggle, as all shows had been canceled and it had no income.

She then decided to save the theater by selling cherries online, an idea inspired by her friend Li Ge, a theatre producer from a small village in Yantai, Shandong province, which is known for growing and selling the fruit.

With the outbreak affecting the fruit trade, Li Ge uses social media platforms to sell cherries for her family.

Li Yangduo said: "Like many small theater owners, I'm pretty devastated by what's happening. We are all facing extremely difficult circumstances due to COVID-19. We literally don't have a penny of revenue coming through the door.

"The news about selling cherries caught my attention and I was drawn to the idea immediately. I am a big fan of (Russian playwright Anton) Chekhov's The Cherry Orchard. When I saw the pictures of real cherry trees posted by Li Ge, I was touched." She added that she named a bookstore at the Drum Tower West Theatre the Cherry Orchard Bookstore.

"There's never been a situation like this. It's unclear when we will be able to stage shows again, but we will do whatever we can to keep the theater alive," Li Yangduo said.

The theatre's supporters warmed to the idea, and within three days, more than 1,500 kilograms of cherries were sold.