LI Xiangning focuses on the research of architecture and urban development in contemporary China. He is a member of the International Committee of Architectural Critics, and the Vice President and Secretary-General of Committee of Architectural Criticism of Architectural Society of China. He has published widely on contemporary Chinese architecture and urbanism in international architectural magazines including Architectural Review, A+U, Architectural Record, The Plan, Arquitectura Viva, Space, Domus, and Volume.
LI Xiangning has been working with international museums and institutes, including Milan Triennale and Goethe Institute, curating exhibitions on Chinese architecture. He is the curator of the Pavilion of China at the 16th International Architecture Exhibition La Biennale di Venezia, academic director and curator of Busan International Environment Art Festival. He is also academic director and curator of 2013 Shenzhen/Hong Kong Bi-city Biennale, curator of Shanghai Westbund 2013 Biennale, and curator for 2015/2017 Shanghai Urban Space Art Season.
He has been a jury member to many international awards and competitions including Mies van der Rohe Award the European Union Prize for Contemporary Architecture. He is the editor in chief of the Architecture China, and serves as editorial board member of many academic journals such as Architecture Asia(Journal of Architects Regional Council Asia),The PLAN and Le Visiteur (Journal of Société Française des Architectes).