Cao Peng was born into one of the most influential families in the once thriving trading centre of Jiangyin, related both to Cao Yuyuan, the famous court censor of the late Qing, and more distantly to the great Cao family (of which the most famous scion was Cao Xueqin) that had risen in the world from the 18th century.
Two years after his ascension, Kangxi appointed Cao's great-grandfather, Cao Xi (曹璽), as the Commissioner of Imperial Textiles (織造) in Jiangning, and the family relocated there.
He is an acknowledged expert on the classic 18th century novel "Dream of the Red Chamber" (红楼梦) by Cao Xueqin.
Cao Cao | Cao Wei | Pierre Cao | Cao Zhen | Cao Rui | Cao Đài | Văn Cao | Nguyen Cao Ky | Joseph Cao | Cao Xiu | Cao Gangchuan | Cao Bằng Province | Zhu Xueqin | Cao Yunding | Cao Ying | Cao Xueqin | Cao Pi | Cao Hamburger | Cao Fang | Terence Cao | Nguyễn Cao Kỳ | Nam Cao | Madame Nguyen Cao Ky | Lý Cao Tông | Huynh Van Cao | Empress Zhen (Cao Fang) | Do Cao Tri | Diogo Cão | Cao Zhi | Cao Zheng |