Xiyadie was born on August 27, 1963,[1] in a small village in Shaanxi province in northwestern China.[3] Xiyadie grew up in a conservative environment based on traditional values. From an early age, he was aware of his attraction to men, but due to societal pressure, he married a woman and had two children.[1][4]
He began his work as an artist in the 1980s.[5] His art features Chinese paper cutting, which he saw as a means to connect with his ancestry while exploring his identity and discussing queer themes and experiences.[6][7][8]
His major works include Joy (1999),[7] Xiang (2012),[7] Music (2016),[7] and Train (2022).[8]