"Camel Xiangzi" is based on the whereabouts of Xiangzi, a rickshaw driver in Beiping (now Beijing), the life of Beijing citizens in the late 1920s and Xiangzi's bumpy and miserable life experience as the main line. It deeply exposes the darkness of old China, accuses the ruling class of exploiting and oppressing laborers, expresses the author's deep sympathy for the working people, and shows people the picture that the poor citizens at the bottom of Beijing are living in the abyss of pain under the warlord scuffle and dark rule. From the story of Xiangzi's attempt to get rid of the tragic fate of life through personal struggle, he finally failed or even degenerated, warning people that it is impossible for poor urban farmers to turn over and become masters by personal struggle alone. Camel Xiangzi came out and was translated into more than ten languages, which had a great influence.

Xiangzi came from the countryside, and the declining countryside made him unable to survive. He came to this city, eager to create a new life with his honest work. He tried all kinds of jobs and finally chose a rickshaw. This career choice shows that although Xiangzi left the land, his way of thinking is still the way of thinking of farmers. He is used to individual labor, and he is also eager to have a car as reliable as land. Buy a car and be an independent worker. "This is his wish, hope, and even religion." The city seems to have given Xiangzi a chance to realize his wish. Struggled for three years, bought a car, and in less than half a year, it was taken away by warlords. But Xiangzi still refused to give up his car dream. Although he doubted his pursuit and wavered several times, he kept pulling himself together and struggling again. It should be said that Xiangzi's tenacious character and stubborn attitude struggle with life, which constitutes the main plot content of the novel. The end of the struggle ended in Xiangzi's failure, and he finally failed to realize his dream of owning his own car. The realism of this novel lies in that it not only describes Xiangzi's material deprivation caused by the harsh living environment, but also describes Xiangzi's spiritual degeneration after his life ideal was destroyed. "He has no heart. His heart has been taken away." A hard-working and kind-hearted rural youth was thus destroyed into a walking bum.