He was a pioneer and key figure in Chinese nuclear weapon development.

In 1946, he went to the United Kingdom to study at the University of Edinburgh, obtaining a PhD in 1948 under advisor Max Born.

He was the chief director for many nuclear weapon test fields/bases and their explosion processes.

[citation needed] Cheng was elected to the Chinese Academy of Sciences in 1980.

He was also a standing member of the Science and Technology Committee, Chinese National Nuclear Industry Corporation.