Born in 1984 in Tianjin, Hao Jingfang graduated in 2006 from the Tsinghua University, majoring in physics. In addition she also studied Astrophysics at Tsinghua Centre, ultimately earning a PhD from the School of Economics and Management. As a student, she won first prize in the fourth New Concept writing competition and the first Novoland essay contest. The English translation of her short story "Folding Beijing" earned Hao her first Hugo Award for Best Novelette at the 74th World Science Fiction Convention in 2016. Her published work includes two full-length novels, Wandering Earth and Born in 1984, short stories collections The Depth of Loneliness and To Go the Distance, and the essay collection Europe within Time.