Year-ender: Hit Chinese variety shows in 2025

The King of Stand-up Comedy Season 2

As China's younger generation embraces a wide range of global entertainment, stand-up comedy has been a vehicle for self-expression, challenging social norms and poking fun at the pressure of modern life.

The King of Stand-up Comedy Season 2, launched on iQIYI on July 11, continued the franchise's focus on unknown voices - turning overlooked lives into widely resonant stories. Season 2 saw 48 stand-up comedians, both solo performers and groups, from comedy clubs across China and overseas.

Contestant Xi Ha, a former national-level athlete who later became a flight attendant, stood out for her energetic delivery and female viewpoint. Through sharp humor, she critiques unrealistic beauty standards, joking about uncomfortable uniforms — short skirts, stockings and high heels — as well as unreasonable passenger demands. Xi Ha finished second when the season concluded in September.

The championship title went to Zhai Jianing, who won applause with a straight-faced, tough style, and bold materials. His routines tackled social issues such as food safety and even openly criticized the show's competition format, drawing strong public attention.

Enlightent data shows the program earned 390 million valid episode views online in 2025. Short videos tagged with the show's major topic garnered more than 2.7 billion plays on Douyin.