Cheng was born into a family of farming background in Datunying of Ningxiang County, Hunan, on October 11, 1929.
In May 1960 he earned his doctor's degree from Saint-Petersburg State University of Architecture and Civil Engineering.
[citation needed] He joined the Department of Civil Engineering faculty of Hunan University in May 1960 and was promoted to professor in 1983.
After this office was terminated in February 1982, he became president of Hunan University, serving until August 1987.
[citation needed] In 2006, he received his Honorary Doctoral Degree from Chiba University.