Xu Peichen was born in 1951, in Peixian county, Jiangsu province. He is a contemporary master of Chinese calligraphy and painting, but excels at landscapes, figures, flowers and birds, and is especially known for his monkeys in a Chinese style.

Xu is member of the Chinese Art Association, vice-president of the Jiangsu Flower and Bird Painting Research Society, a professor and master's supervisor at Nanjing Normal University's Art School, and a member of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference for Jiangsu.

He has held exhibitions in China and abroad and the Chinese Ministry of Culture, Chinese Art Gallery, Chinese National Museum, Chairman Mao Memorial Hall, and Zhongnanhai have his work.

He has published nearly 40 books and albums, such as Outlines of Monkey Painting Techniques, How to Paint Monkeys, Xu Peichen's Painting Album, and Xu Peichen's Monkey Painting Album.

From 2000 to 2004, he carried out the "Passion for Thousands of Mountains and Water - Xu Peichen National Art Exhibit Tour" through provincial capitals, municipalities, autonomous regions, Hong Kong, and Taiwan.

On New Year's Day, 2008, the city government of Maanshan established the Xu Peichen Art Gallery as a follow-up to its Li Bai Memorial and Lin Sanzhi Art Museum, in Zhuran Culture Park, as a cultural calling card.

In June of 2010, the Chinese Art Gallery in Beijing held an "Affection for Mountains and Water - Xu Peichen Chinese Painting Exhibition" to show his artistic achievements.