Tian was born in Zhaoyuan County, Heilongjiang, on 8 December 1940, while his ancestral home in Penglai, Yantai, Shandong.
His second younger brother Tian Fengchun (田凤春) once served as party secretary of Zhaoyuan County and vice mayor of Daqing.
[1] After returning hometown, Tian was arranged to work as a substitute teacher at Yishun Township Central Primary School (义顺乡中心小学).
[1] Two years later, he was transferred to the neighboring Chengjiao People's Commune (城郊人民公社) and appointed party secretary.
On December 27, 2005, charged with bribery, Tian was given a life sentence by the Beijing Second Intermediate People's Court, with life-time political privileges being removed and all his personal belongings confiscated.