Tang studied Naval warfare in France and the United Kingdom.

In 1911, during the Wuchang Uprising, Tang, under the command of Admiral Sa Zhenbing, sailed to Hankou as part of the Qing Navy's assistance to the Qing Army operations in the area.

In December 1915, he supported Yuan Shikai's creation of the Empire of China (1915–1916).

In 1930, he supported Shanxi warlord Yan Xishan in opposing Chiang Kai-shek.

After the end of the Chinese Civil War, he stayed on the mainland and died in Beijing at the age of 90.