[3][4] She was regarded as one of "the four great female poets of the Tang Dynasty" along with Yu Xuanji, Li Ye and Liu Caichun.

[5][6] Xue Tao was born in Chang'an, the capital of the Tang Dynasty, and migrated with her parents to the State of Shu in her youth.

[9] Xue Tao was registered with the guild of courtesans and entertainers in Chengdu and in time became well known for her wit and her poetic talent.

[2] Her poetry attracted the attention of Wei Gao, the military governor of Xichuan Circuit (西川, headquartered in modern Chengdu, Sichuan) and she was made his official hostess.

[8]: 522 In later years, Xue was able to live independently in a site outside the city[2] associated with the great poet of an earlier generation, Du Fu.

Xue Tao was also a calligrapher, and her calligraphy inherited Wei Zhi(韦陟)'s "Wuyun(五云)" style running script in the prosperous Tang Dynasty.