Cao Lian was born in Wuhan, Hubei. Calligraphy and painting seal engraver. He used to be vice chairman of Hubei Calligraphers Association and Wuhan Calligraphers Association, director of Hubei and Wuhan Artists Association, examiner of painting and calligraphy department of Oita Art Exhibition in Japan, honorary president of Donghu Printing Society, president of Yellow Crane Tower Painting and Calligraphy Society, etc.
A number of photocopies have been included in Jiuhuatang's Notes on Modern Masters (Hong Kong), The Calligraphy Collection of Modern Masters in Taiyi Building (Hong Kong) and The Painting Collection of Modern Masters in Taiyi Building (Hong Kong), with special articles introduced. Author of How to Write China's Calligraphy, reprinted four times.