Xu Shizheng (1935) was a native of Dalian, Liaoning Province. In 1958, he graduated from Shenyang Normal University, majoring in fine arts education. He became an art teacher in the Dalian No.15 Middle School. He was successively named the National May 1st Labor Medal Winner (1985), National Outstanding Teacher (1989), National Model Worker (1995), etc.

Xu was good in art education, which he continued to engage in after retirement, and watercolor painting.