1968 graduated from Changchun Institute of Geology, 1979- 1984 graduated from Nanjing Institute of Geology and Paleontology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, and 1985 received his doctorate. 1988- 1989 completed postdoctoral research in the British Museum (Department of Natural History). 1995-2000 served as deputy director of Nanjing Institute of Geology and Palaeontology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, and successively served as secretary-general of China Paleontological Society (1997-200 1) and International Paleobotany Society.
He used to be the vice chairman of the 6th International Society of Paleobotany, the secretary general of the Chinese Society of Paleontology, and the deputy director of Nanjing Institute of Geology and Paleontology, Chinese Academy of Sciences. Nominated by the Ministry of Education, he won the first prize of National Natural Science Award (2004), the Li Siguang Geological Science Award (2005) and the second prize of Natural Science Award of China Academy of Sciences (1997). In 2007, he was elected as a model worker in Changchun. At present, other social part-time jobs mainly include: Chinese director of Sino-German cooperative Xinjiang Geological Workstation, member of academic committee of Key Laboratory of Biodiversity of China Academy of Sciences, member of expert committee of China Paleontological Fossil Protection Foundation, member of Liaoning Fossil Appraisal Committee, etc.