Huang was born in Dafeng, Jiangsu. He graduated from Nanjing Navigation Engineering College in 1962 (later known as Shanghai Maritime University). In 1963 he was assigned to work in the Port of Qinhuangdao. By 1982, he was promoted to the head of administration at the Port. In 1985, he was named Vice Minister of Transportation. In 1988 he became President of the National Transportation Investment Company. In 1991 he became Minister of Transport.