Born in Suzhou, Jiangsu, His original name was Shan-yong, his character name is Yong-shao, and formal name is Yong, Hong-zhai, and Ke-meng Taoist Priest. He was graduated from the Jiangsu two-chi pedagogical school. And was the professor in the art department of Yali University. In 1926, he published his own album, Chi Yuan-pei written the foreword for him. In 1932 Chi Yuanpei set the style for him, he described its: "structure and the essences, strictly followed the tradition; the picture and the essences, however, has a unique European feeling." In 1930, Tao Lengyue settled down in Shanghai and made his living by selling his paintings. After 1949, he successively taught in the Shanghai Fuxin middle school, and the Wu-ai middle school. When his 89 years old in 1984, he joined the Shanghai artist association, and was hired for the Shanghai Culture and History museum.