Professor Tian is a modern Chinese linguist. She graduated from Peking University (1958 - 1963) and Shandong University, Department of Chinese Ancient Chinese professional graduate school (1963 - 1966). She has long been engaged in Chinese language teaching, curriculum, publishing and research.

After settling in Hong Kong in 1985, she has worked at Hong Kong University, the Chinese University of Hong Kong and the Macau University of East Asia. From 2000-2009, Professor Tian taught full-time at Lingnan University in Hong Kong, at the former Chinese Language Teaching and Testing Center.

Affiliations:
Current member: National Putonghua Training and Testing Experts Steering Committee,
Consultant: City University of Hong Kong Putonghua Training and Testing Center.
Cooperation with Shandong University, Chinese Language Society of Hong Kong Chinese Language Society, Society of Chinese.
Visiting Professor: Renmin University of China, Capital Normal University, Shanghai Normal University, Northwest University and Shaanxi Normal University.
Advisor: Open University of Hong Kong.