He was a member of the China Writers Association, the Children's Literature Committee, and various government organisations in Anhui province.
His first publications were in 1957, initially poetry, essays and theory, but stopped writing in 1963.
He travelled extensively in China, spending long periods of time in the wilds, e.g. in Xinjiang, Yunnan, Tibet and other areas.
He received a National Outstanding Children's Literature Award on two occasions.
He was on the IBBY Honour List 2008, and was nominated for the Hans Christian Andersen Award.