Street performers entertain crowds during the Liyuan Comedy Festival in Qingdao's historic Zhongshan Road area. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

The third Liyuan Comedy Festival opened in Qingdao, Shandong province, on Sept 19, transforming the historic Zhongshan Road neighborhood into a citywide stage filled with performances, street shows and laughter.

Running for 10 days under the theme "Surprises at Every Step", the festival takes comedy beyond conventional theaters and into Qingdao's century-old liyuan courtyards, streets and public spaces, offering visitors an immersive way to explore the old city.

This year's festival brings together 35 comedy groups and performers from 11 Chinese cities, with 63 productions scheduled for 82 invited performances. The program spans stand-up, improvisation, mime, children's theater and traditional forms such as Shandong kuaishu storytelling.

Beyond ticketed shows, 28 Chinese and international teams will present more than 1,000 pop-up performances across 12 street stages. Concerts, comedy workshops, film screenings and industry talks will also be held throughout the festival.

Its international lineup includes six performing groups from France, Denmark, Italy and other countries, presenting puppetry, rhythmic comedy, musical parades and family-oriented shows. A film program will screen four classic French comedies alongside three Chinese productions.

By bringing performances into courtyards and streets, the festival is giving Qingdao's historic neighborhood a contemporary cultural twist, turning a walk through the old city into part of the show itself.