Born in 1951, Guangxi Province of China, Wang Shi joined the Chinese army in 1968. He was demobilized in 1973 and worked for the Water and Electricity Supply Department of Zhengzhou Railway. He was majored in Water Supply Studies of Lanzhou Railway College (now known as Lanzhou Jiaotong University) . After graduation since 1978, he had worked in Guangzhou Railway Bureau, Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation Committee of Guangdong Province, and Shenzhen Special Region Development Company. In 1984, he established the Shenzhen Exhibition Center for Modern Science and Education Equipment, the predecessor of the Company, and served as General Manager.

From 1988 to 2016, he served as the Chairman of the Board after the Demutualization of the Company in 1988. From 1988 to 1998, he served as the General Manager. He has become the Honorary Chairman of the Board since 2017.

Wang is currently served as Board Member of Clean Cookstoves Project of UN Foundation,
Board Member of World Wildlife Fund（WWF）,
Board Member of the Forbidden City Cultural Heritage Cultural Conservation Foundation,
Board Member of Han Meilin Foundation,
Founding Chairman of One Planet Foundation,
Chairman of Vanke Foundation,
President, Shenzhen Mangrove Wetlands Conservation Foundation (MCF),
Vice President of China Chamber of International Commerce,
Honorary Chairman of Asian Rowing Federation,
Director General of Committee 2005,
Chairman of the Board of Shenzhen General Chamber of Commerce (SGCC),
President of Shenzhen Non-Governmental Organization Federation,
Chairman of the Board of Shenzhen Foundation for International Exchange and Cooperation.
Wang is also a visiting fellow at the Harvard University, University of Cambridge and University of Oxford.

In 1999, Wang was the first Chairman of the first session. In 2004. He was the founding member of Society of Entrepreneurs & Ecology and served as President of the second session.
Wang was also the Executive Chairman of the first Foundation.

Wang wrote several books including Genuine spot roads and dreams and Soul in the Journey.