Born in Hangzhou, Zhejiang in 1915, originally from Wuxi, Jiangsu.

In 1930, he attended the Provincial First High School and published his first comic in the school magazine, depicting students afraid of getting vaccinated against the epidemic. In the same year, a manga titled "Lotus Picking in Jiangnan, Lotus Leaves in Hetian Field" was published in Zhejiang Daily.

In around 1934, he officially submitted his works to newspapers and published comics. At that time, he was studying at the Affiliated High School of Datong University in Shanghai, and his works were published in newspapers such as "The Analects", "Cosmic Wind", "Time Comics", "Shanghai Comics", "Independent Comics", "Da Mei Evening News", "Hua Mei Evening News", "Xin Bao", etc.

In 1938, he went from Shanghai to Yan'an and worked as a researcher and teacher at the Lu Xun Academy of Art and Literature. The work has been published in the New China Daily, Liberation Daily, and Lu Yi Comic Wall Newspaper.

In 1942, Mao Zedong collaborated with Cai Ruohong and Zhang He to hold the "Satirical Painting Exhibition". Mao Zedong visited the exhibition and in August of the same year, Mao Zedong made an appointment and had a beneficial conversation with the manga. In May, participated in the Yan'an Literature and Art Symposium.

In 1945, Japan surrendered and in October, they traveled from Yan'an to Northeast China. They published a large number of comics in the Northeast Daily.

At the end of 1949, he was transferred to the People's Daily as the art team leader and director of the literary and artistic department. He has published comics in newspapers such as People's Daily, Guangming Daily, Manga Monthly, and New Observation.

From 1953 to 1966, he also served as the Secretary General of the Chinese Artists Association.

From 1977 to 1980, he served as the head of the Art Bureau of the Ministry of Culture and the artistic team leader of the Mao Zedong Memorial Hall project.

From 1980 to 1999, he served as the Vice Chairman of the Chinese Artists Association. Manga creation has been published in major newspapers and magazines in Beijing, Tianjin, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Hangzhou, and Dalian.

Since 1990, he has held solo exhibitions in 21 cities in Beijing, Tianjin, Shanghai, Guangzhou, as well as in the northeast, northwest, and southwest, as well as in industrial and mining enterprises such as Daqing Oilfield, Shanggang Third Factory, Tanggu Salt Field, and Beidahuang Agricultural Reclamation. He also held solo exhibitions in units such as the Linfen Brigade, Zhang Side's former platoon, and the Beihai Fleet.

Has held solo exhibitions in Japan, Singapore, and Hong Kong.

Published 37 volumes of comics, illustrations, and treatises.

Formerly served as a representative of the 8th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, a representative of the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd National People's Congress, a member of the 5th, 6th, and 7th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, a member and secretary of the All China Federation of Literary and Art Circles, an honorary member of the All China Federation of Literary and Art Circles, and an advisor to the China Artists Association.

On June 13, 2010, he passed away in Beijing due to illness at the age of 95.