Li Xilin was born in 1930 and is a native of Jizhou County, Shandong Province. He joined the CPC in 1945. He was a member of the 14th CPC Central Committee.
| 1998—2003 | Member, 9th Standing Committee of the NPC | |
| 1994— | General, PLA | |
| 1992—1997 | Member, 14th CPC, Central Committee | |
| 1990—1992 | Commander, PLA, Regions, Guangzhou Military Region Guangdong Province, Guangzhou City | |
| 1988—1994 | Lieutenant General, PLA | |
| 1983—1990 | Chief of Staff, PLA, Regions, Guangzhou Military Region Guangdong Province, Guangzhou City | |
| 1976—1983 | Chief of Staff, PLA, Services and Arms, Army (or Ground Force) | |
| 1971—1976 | Chief of Staff, PLA, Services and Arms, Army (or Ground Force), Division Command | |
| 1945 | Joined, PLA |