Known by the pen names of Kè'ā, Éjiā, and Línbì, he wrote such works of Chinese modernist poetry as Guilai de Ge (Song of Returning) and Xiang Taiyang (Toward the Sun).
While imprisoned for his opposition to the Kuomintang (Chinese National People's Party), he penned Dayanhe, his first book of poetry.
He edited such respected literary publications as Poetry Magazine and People's Literature.
His two sons, Ai Xuan and
He was a contemporary of fellow Chinese poet Wen Yiduo.
