Jianning Liang received his bachelor's degree from Guangxi Medical University in 1983. After working as an ENT surgeon at the Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University (1983–1990), he joined the Institute of Laryngology and Otology, University College London, as a Clinical Scientist, where he worked until his retirement. He was awarded a PhD by University College London in 2002. Since 1997, he has devoted his research to Qing-dynasty Chinese export paintings and has assembled the Qing Xiu Tang Collection, comprising 483 works and sets, including Suzhou prints, export wallpapers, reverse glass paintings, oil paintings, gouache paintings, and pith paper paintings. Twenty-four works from the collection were exhibited at Suzhou Art Gallery from February to April 2026.