Xiao Wangdong was born in August 1910 in Ji'an County, Jiangxi province. His original name was Xiao Huicun (萧惠存), and he also used the name Xiao Ke (萧克). He joined the Communist Youth League in November 1927. In July 1929, he joined the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and the Red Army. In October 1934, he participated in the Long March, and reached northern Shaanxi a year later.[2]
In April 1965, Xiao Wangdong was appointed Vice Minister of Culture of China, under minister Lu Dingyi. After Lu Dingyi was purged at the beginning of the Cultural Revolution, Xiao became the acting minister in May 1966.[2] Although Xiao was a military official, he followed Liu Shaoqi and attempted to limit the disruptions of the radical Red Guards.[3] In February 1967 he was denounced as a counterrevolutionary and capitalist roader.[1] He was purged and subsequently imprisoned for nine years.[2] His superior Tao Zhu, who sought to protect him, was also purged.[3]