Born Liu Jiaxin in Tianhe District, Guangzhou, she is the only daughter to her parents.

Both of her parents were basketball players, but she chose swimming.

[6][7] Liu is an alumnus of South China Normal University.

At the 2015 World Aquatics Championships, Liu won the bronze medal in the 50-meter backstroke behind teammate Fu Yuanhui at the 2015 World Aquatics Championships in Kazan, Russia.

In the 2018 Asian Games Liu broke the 27-second barrier in the women's 50m backstroke as she set a world record and took the gold medal.