Lim's early years of education were spent at a local primary school, SJK(C) Lick Hung.

Lim achieved Malaysia's first-ever gold medal at the 2013 Asian Youth Games in the 200m freestyle event with a time of 1:50.81.

[5] On 9 February 2021, Lim Ching Hwang was given eight weeks in jail for defaulting on Singaporean National Service (NS).

[8] Lim was given Singapore permanent residency status under the Foreign Sports Talent Scheme in March 2014, at the age of 18, and became subject to the requirements of the Enlistment Act.

Lim said he is "deeply regretful" of the actions he committed "as a boy", adding that he has "come back to face the consequences as a man".