Wang Hongyao was born in November 1951 in Jining, Shandong Province.

He holds a graduate degree from the PLA National Defence University.

[1][2] Wang joined the PLA in December 1969, and served in the 199th division of the 67th Group Army.

On 31 July 2013, he was promoted to general (shangjiang), the highest rank for Chinese military officers in active service.

[3] Wang was a member of the 18th Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party (2012–2017).