In 1903, at the age of fifteen, he chose to pursue a Western-style education, and enrolled in a secondary school affiliated with Soochow University.

[4] Chao was well known for his academic work as a professor of religious philosophy and dean at Yenching University (1928-1951).

[5] When the Three-Self Patriotic Movement was launched, Chao was one of the 40 church leaders who signed the "Christian Manifesto".

[7] According to Gareth Jones, Chao converted from Methodism to Anglicanism on 20 July 1941, when Bishop Ronald Hall confirmed and also ordained him as both a deacon and priest all on the same day.

[2] These changes in the sociopolitical context would be reflected in Chao's theology, especially in his view of Christ, which moved from a more liberal starting point to a conservative one that addressed questions of human and societal sin.