Liu was born in Ninghe County, Hebei (now part of Tianjin) in 1933. He was selected to the Chinese Mountaineering Team in 1955. While training in the Soviet Union, he reached the summit of Mount Elbrus and Muztagh Ata (first ascent in the world) in 1956. He became one of the first Chinese to reach the summit of Mount Gongga in June 1957.