Peng Xiaoyu is from Hangzhou, Zhejiang. He graduated from Peking University with a bachelor's degree and a master's degree in history. After staying in school as a teacher, he went to Catholic University in the United States under the sponsorship of Harvard-Yanjing Society, and obtained a master's degree in literature and a doctorate in philosophy. Now he is a professor in the history department of Peking University, mainly engaged in the research and teaching of church law and church history. He is a member of the American Church Law Association and the Catholic Historical Association.