Professor Wenquan Tao gained degrees from the Department of Dynamic Mechanics at Xi'an Jiaotong University. He has been a professor since 1986 and a supervisor of doctorate students since 1990. He has published papers in various international journals and at international conference, as well as in Chinese journals. He has also written books and textbooks.

He has received a number of awards in China for his achievements in both research and teaching. In 2003, he was awarded the "National Outstanding Teacher" title, while in 2005 was elected as an academician of Chinese Academy of Sciences.

Professor Tao is an associate chief editor of two international journals dealing with papers submitted by Chinese authors, a member of the editing boards of three international journals, and vice chairman of the Heat Transfer Committee of the Chinese Association of Engineering Thermophysics.