[1][2][3] He grew up in Beijing and participated in the Cultural Revolution as a Red Guard, graduating from Tsinghua University High School in 1968.
[2][3] In 1979, Zheng published short story Feng (The Maples), describing violent struggles among Red Guards and rebel factions during the Cultural Revolution, and the film adaption of the novel was released in 1980.
[2][6][10] After graduating from college, Zheng became a journal editor in the Jinzhong Branch of the China Federation of Literary and Art Circles in 1981.
[2][8][10] However, Zheng Yi was wanted by the Chinese government for his active participation in the student movement in Tiananmen Square in 1989.
[1][3][9][10] He and his wife Bei Ming (北明), who is also a writer, were arrested and detained until March 1990, and they fled to Hong Kong in 1992 and then to the United States in 1993.