In the 1940s, he studied at Yenching University in Beijing where he met Chinese Communist Party (CCP) leaders including the future Premier Zhou Enlai.

Following his graduation from Yenching, Han worked as an English professor at the North China Allied University for several years where he met his wife, Ge Jiyun.

[3] Han's elder brother, Shen Chonghui (沈崇誨), had joined the Republic of China Air Force as a pilot and died in 1937 while bombing the Japanese cruiser Izumo during the Battle of Shanghai.

[2] After the surrender of Japan in 1945, Han served as an interpreter for the peace talks between the CCP and the Nationalists, which were brokered by the United States.

Over a series of trips and negotiations between then Vice President George H. W. Bush, the two parties came to sign the Third Communiqué that would work to decrease the sale of arms to Taiwan by the United States.

"[6] After leaving his position as ambassador in 1989, Han was made chairman of the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries.