Huang was born Xiaogan, Hubei province. He joined the workforce in July 1976 as an elementary school teacher; thereafter, he attended Tongji University, and joined the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) in October 1984. He also has a degree in political economics from Sichuan United University (now part of Sichuan University), and a doctorate in economics.[1]
He worked at the Chengdu Engines Company as a technician, engineer, and a leader in the company's Communist Youth League (CYL) wing. He then served as CYL leader in Chengdu, and was elevator to deputy CYL chief in Sichuan province, then was promoted to chief in August 1997. In August 2000 he was elevated to party chief of the Ngawa Prefecture, and in May 2007 named to the Chinese Communist Party Provincial Standing Committee and head of the provincial propaganda department. In November 2011 he was named party chief of Chengdu, capital of Sichuan province, and a sub-provincial city.[1] Shortly following the 18th National Congress of the Chinese Communist Party, Sichuan Governor Jiang Jufeng retired due to age, and Huang was seen as one of the frontrunners to replace Jiang as Governor. However, the post eventually went to Wei Hong.[2]
During the anti-corruption campaign under Xi Jinping, media outlets reported Huang's connections to businessman Liu Han, a local tycoon later executed, and Zhou Bin, son of Zhou Yongkang. The fall of the Chengdu organization department chief, Zhao Miao, also stirred rumors about Huang. Huang's predecessor in Chengdu, Li Chuncheng, was put under investigation in late 2012.[3]
Huang was a delegate to the 16th, 17th, and 18th National Congress of the CCP, and an alternate member of the 18th Central Committee of the CCP.[1]