Lu Hongxiang started his career in the 1979 Chinese league season with Tianjin, where he showed he was capable of playing as a left midfielder, wingback or striker. The following season, he quickly established himself as one of the most skillful players in China and was part of the team that won the 1980 league title. This then saw him called up to the Chinese national team, where he was included in the squads that took part in the 1982 Asian Games and 1984 AFC Asian Cup where China came runners-up. By 1987 he had the chance to move abroad with Japanese side Fujitsu F.C. before ending his career with Tokyo Gas.