Xue Yi was born in Wuhu (China) in 1980 into a family with a tradition of violin making, with his father one of the first violin makers in China. He took up the study of music from an early age.

In 2001, he began studying violin making at the Shanghai Conservatory under Prof Hua Tianreng.

Since 2006, he attended the Antonio Stradivari International Violinmaking School in Cremona, where he studied under Maestro Marco Nolli, Ernesto Vaia, Alessandro Voltini and Claudio Amighetti.

In 2011 he was awarded the Gold Medal (viola) and the Silver Medal (cello) A.N.L.A.I. at the 5th National Violinmaking Competition in Pisogne (BS).

Since 2018, he has opened his own workshop in Cremona.

He currently lives and works in Cremona.