Zheng Shanqing studied under Xu Beihong at the Central Art Academy in Beijing. He graduated in 1981. In 1986 he was invited to become an artist-in-residence at the State University of New York at Stonybrook. He has been living in New York ever since. Zheng's works have been presented at the Chinese Art Museum in Beijing, the Spring Salon in Paris, the Bawag Foundation Gallery in Vienna. A good example of his work is held in the collection of contemporary Chinese paintings at the British Museum in London.