Zheng Shiling was born in Chengdu, Sichuan Province on November 12, 1941. He received his master's degree at the Architecture Department of Tongji University in 1981 and received his doctor's degree in 1993. He is a professor at Institute of Architecture and Urban Space, Tongji University. He became an elected academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences in 2001. He was elected as an academician of the French Academy of Architectural Sciences in 1998 and an honorary senior member of the American Institute of Architects in 2002. In 2007, he received an honorary doctorate from the University of Rome, Italy. He once served as president of the School of Architecture and Urban Planning of Tongji University, vice president of Tongji University, president of Shanghai Architectural Society, vice president of China Architectural Society, chief planner and consultant at 2010 Shanghai World Expo, member of Academic Degrees Committee of the State Council, etc. He is currently the director of the Academic Committee of Tongji University.