Xiangzi heads to the big city to enjoy the freedom of being a rickshaw boy. In Beijing, a better life eludes the boy from the countryside, and his dream turns into a desperate nightmare. He is humiliated and struggles to feed himself.

This film has it setting in old Beijing,telling the story of Xiangzi and Huniu.Xiangzi comes to the city from the village,dreaming to alter his fate by being a free rickshaw boy.He bears the humiliation,goes to hungry and runs with his rickshaw desperately.Anyway,he can't possibly change his fate but ends up with miserable life.

Xiang Zi is a rickshaw boy who has always had a desire to excel and a thirst for freedom. He married Hu Niu who died of dystocia later. After her death, another girl, Xiao Fuzi, falls in love with Xiang Zi but they are separated by poverty. Xiang Zi works very hard in order to change his life, only to find that Xiao Fuzi is dead just as he begins to be hopeful for their future. Finally, Xiang Zi, an unflinching man, surrenders to that dark society.