In 1956, he was admitted to the Central Conservatory of Music to study composition theory, as well as musical instruments such as erhu, piano and suona. 

In 1959, he composed the erhu "Ballad of Henan" during his school days. 

In 1960, he composed the Erhu piece "Sanmenxia Imagination". 

In 1961, after graduating, he joined the Central Chinese Orchestra. 

In 1978, he visited the United States, Hong Kong and Macau. 

In 1981, he went to Australia to give lectures. 

In 1982, he composed the Erhu Concerto "Thinking about the Great Wall". 

In 1983, he won the first prize of the 3rd National Music Works (National Instrumental Music) Award for "Casual thoughts on the Great Wall".

In 1984, he served as the head of the Central Chinese Orchestra. 

In 1985, he served as the guest conductor of the Hong Kong Chinese Orchestra; in the same year, he was elected as the fourth director of the Chinese Music Association. 

In 1986, he served as the deputy director of the National Music Committee of the Chinese Music Association. 

In September 1989, the Hong Kong Chinese Orchestra held the "From Liu Tianhua to Liu Wenjin" concert. 

In 1993, "Northern Henan Ballade" was rated as "20th Century Chinese Music Classic". 

In 1998, he directed the National Orchestra of China Song and Dance Theater to hold the "Ties of Friendship" concert in the Great Hall of the People.

In 2002, he composed the erhu suite "The Tathagata Dream". 

In 2003, he promoted the Chinese Orchestra of China Song and Dance Theater to form an Asian Orchestra with South Korea and Japan. 

In 2005, a concert of works by Liu Wenjin was held at the Central Conservatory of Music. 

In 2006, a concert of Liu Wenjin's erhu works was held at the Tianjin Conservatory of Music. 

In 2007, he held a concert of works by Liu Wenjin on the 50th anniversary of his career in art at the Beijing Concert Hall; in the same year, he composed the erhu concerto "Snow Mountain Soul Sculpture", which became the final designated piece of the "Golden Bell Award" Erhu Competition; in the same year, he served as a judge of the CCTV National Instrumental Music Competition . 

In 2010, a concert and seminar of works by Liu Wenjin was held in Zhengzhou, Henan. 

In 2012, a concert of works by Liu Wenjin was held at the Beijing Concert Hall. 

On June 27, 2013, died of illness in Beijing