Liu Baorui

Liu Baorui (1915–1968) was a Chinese xiangsheng performer best known for his solo storytelling, an art form in which he became one of the genre’s defining figures. His repertoire included “Three Promotions in a Row” (《连升三级》), a satirical tale that uses an absurd official career to expose bureaucratic corruption. Born in Beijing, he studied under Zhang Shouchen and helped preserve and popularize traditional xiangsheng through performance and teaching.