Joined work in August 1963 and joined the Party in August 1968.
In August 1963, he served as a teacher at the No. 1 Primary School in Bijie, Guizhou.
In March 1968, he served as a soldier, clerk and squad leader of the 37th Division Artillery Regiment of the 13th Group Army.
In August 1970, he was appointed as the Propaganda Section Officer of the Political Department of the 37th Division of the 13th Group Army.
In June 1976, he served as deputy section chief of the Education Section of the Propaganda Department of the Political Department of the Chengdu Military Region.
In June 1983, he was appointed deputy director of the Propaganda Department of the Political Department of the Chengdu Military Region.
In July 1985, he was appointed Deputy Minister of Culture of the Political Department of the Chengdu Military Region.
In July 1987, he served as the Minister of Culture of the Political Department of the Chengdu Military Region.
In August 1990, he served as political commissar and party secretary of the General Political Department Song and Dance Ensemble.
In August 1992, he served as deputy minister of the Ministry of General Affairs and Culture, and later served as deputy political commissar of a certain group army and deputy director of the Political Department of Jinan Military Region.
In April 1999, he was appointed as the dean of the People's Liberation Army Art Academy (full military position).
In December 2003, he was appointed as the director of the work department directly under the General Political Department.
Retired in December 2006. Rank of major general.
He is a representative of the 10th National People's Congress and a member of the 11th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference.
In December 2000, he was elected as the fourth vice president of the Chinese Calligraphers Association.
In December 2005, he was elected as the fifth vice-chairman of the Chinese Calligraphers Association
In 2006, calligrapher Shen Wan was elected as a representative of the 10th National People's Congress.
In 2008, calligrapher Shen Wan was elected as a member of the 11th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference.
In 2012, Shen Wansheng and Shen Xiaoyi’s “Ink and Wash Leave Traces” calligraphy and painting joint exhibition opened in Beijing.
The 2012 “Ink and Wash Leave Traces” Shen Wansheng calligraphy seminar was held in Beijing.