Wu was born 1951 in Changle County, Shandong province, to an ordinary family of peasants, the youngest of three sisters.

After graduating, she returned to her home county to serve as a political instructor, and leader of a local production commune.

[citation needed] In Shandong, Wu oversaw legal affairs, including jurisdiction of the courts, prosecution agencies, and law enforcement.

In 2002, she was named Chair of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference of Shandong province, ascending to full provincial-level status.

[citation needed] Sing Tao Daily of Hong Kong reported in June 2017 that Wu was implicated in a credentials fraud case involving fellow Shandong native Lu Enguang, and that she had been expelled from the party in addition to being demoted to a futingji (sub-department) "non-leading" position.