Wei Xiao graduated from university in China with a Bachelor of Science degree in Medicine, which was followed in 2001 by an Advanced Refresher Course Diploma in prose fiction at Beijing Lu Xun College of Literature. Five years as a stomatological doctor in Beijing was followed by work in Australia as a nurse for another five years and as a staff member in a pathological testing company since 1995. A member of writing groups and societies in Australia and overseas, Xiao was appointed chairperson of Sydney Writers' Association in 2002. She has published essays and stories in numerous overseas newspapers, periodicals and anthologies.
Xiao has received prizes for her writing, including one for a story titled 'A Young Girl Fresh from that Corner' in the 2000 Australian-Chinese Story Competition, another for 'Master Huang-Hong Kong Uncle' in the 16th Chinese Youth Literary Competition in 2003 and again for excellent writing awarded by the Taiwan Overseas Chineses Union Award for Fiction and Essays in 2003.