Xie Mulian (1918-1985) was from Yuyao, Zhejiang Province. When he was 15, he studied calendar design under his uncle, the famous designer Xie Zhiguang. From 1938 onward, he worked for various advertising companies, designing commercial advertising. After 1950, he joined the Shanghai Reproduction Publishing House. He later became a New Year pictures designer with the Shanghai People's Fine Arts Publishing House.

Xie, who specialized in calendar-style New Year pictures, received an award for his artistic activities in 1985.