Born in Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, Wu Yigong enrolled in the directing department of the Beijing Film Academy in 1956.
After graduation in 1960, he was appointed as an assistant director at Shanghai Haiyan Film Factory.
[1] His first solo film, My Memories of Old Beijing (城南旧事), won the 3rd Golden Rooster Award for best director.
His other films include Evening Rain (巴山夜雨) (1st Golden Rooster Award for best motion picture) (co-directed with Wu Yonggang), The Tribulations of a Young Master (少爷的磨难), and A Confucius Family (阙里人家), among others.
[citation needed] Wu died on 14 September 2019 in Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai.