After graduating from Tongcheng Secondary School, he entered Shanghai Art College (上海美術專科學校) in 1925, majoring in painting.

During the Second Sino-Japanese War, Huang served as the vice chairman of 129th Division of the Eighth Route Army.

In 1948, Huang was transferred to Xibaipo as the vice chairman of the People's Liberation Army General Political Department.

In 1973, Huang was appointed chairman of Liaison Office of the People's Republic of China in United States.

[1] In 1977, Huang served as deputy head of the Propaganda Department of the Chinese Communist Party and Minister of Culture of the People'e Republic of China.