Xiang was born in August 1927 in Hangzhou, Zhejiang. He joined the Chinese Communist Party in June 1945 and began his revolutionary career the same year. During his studies at the affiliated middle school of the University of Shanghai, at the university itself, and later at Yenching University in Beijing, he was active in underground Party work, serving successively as head of a Party cell, member of a Party branch committee, Party branch secretary, and general branch secretary.[2]
After the founding of the People's Republic of China in 1949, Xiang held various positions within the Beijing municipal government, including cadre and deputy director in the Publicity Department of the Beijing Municipal Committee's Academic Affairs Commission. He later served as secretary in the office of Peng Zhen and held leadership posts in the Research Office of the Beijing Municipal Committee, including head of the rural affairs group and the culture and education group, and deputy director of the Research Office.[3]
During the Cultural Revolution, Xiang was persecuted and removed from his posts. He resumed work in 1973 and subsequently served as deputy director and deputy Party secretary of the Beijing Municipal Price Bureau.[4]
Beginning in 1979, Xiang transferred to national legislative work. He served as deputy secretary-general and later deputy director of the Legislative Affairs Commission of the NPC Standing Committee, as well as deputy director of the NPC Legal Committee during the sixth, seventh, and eighth National People's Congresses. He was elected a member of the Standing Committee of the 8th National People's Congress.[5]
Xiang also played a significant role in the drafting of the Basic Law of Hong Kong and the Basic Law of Macau. He was a member of both drafting committees and preparatory committees, and later served as director of the Hong Kong Basic Law Committee under the NPC Standing Committee. He retired from public office in December 2003. Xiang Chunyi died of illness in Beijing on February 14, 2014, at the age of 87.[6][7]