Hu Xingliang was born in 1957 in Chun’an, Zhejiang. From February 1978 to January 1982, he studied Chinese language and literature at Anhui University. From February 1982 to January 1985, he pursued a master’s degree in modern Chinese literature at Hangzhou University. From February 1985 to January 1988, he obtained his Ph.D. in drama and opera studies at Nanjing University. Since February 1988, he has been teaching at the Department of Chinese Language and Literature (School of Liberal Arts) at Nanjing University. He was appointed as a lecturer in 1988, associate professor in 1992, and professor in 1997.