Set in the 1920s in a courtyard in the southern part of Beijing, the novel depicts the warm family life of Ying-tzu and her family. The novel is imbued with a nostalgic tone, portraying the author's emotions in a simple and straightforward manner.
The narrative begins with the prologue "Winter Sun, Childhood Years, the Camel Caravan", and subsequent chapters each focus on one or two main characters. Through Ying-tzu's interactions with each character, the novel provides a child's perspective on the joys and sorrows of human life. The final chapter, "Papa’s Flowers Have Fallen, and I Was Not Longer a Child", marks the father's death, and Ying-tzu must begin to take on the responsibility of caring for her siblings, signaling the end of her childhood. The story concludes with a subtle sadness.[3] Additionally, three major chapters in Memories of Peking: South Side Stories describe the stories of women: "Hui-an Hostel", Lan I-niang" (Aunt Lan), and "Donkey Rolls", depicting the unfortunate experiences of different women of that era.[4]
Memories of Peking: South Side Stories was first published by Kuangchi Publishing in July 1960. After subsequent editions, Lin Hai-yin reclaimed the copyright and began self-publishing from the third edition, with her own Belles-Lettres Publishing handling the publication.[5] The novel has seen multiple editions in Taiwan and Hong Kong, and it has been translated into English, Korean, German, Japanese, and other languages.[6]