In 2008, Xu was deputy chief of the staff of the Nanjing Military Region Air Force when the Great Sichuan earthquake occurred. He was put in charge of the Nanjing MR air force units in the search and rescue operation. He personally oversaw preparation of aircraft in the Special Rescue Regiment that received emergency mobilization orders at 10:30 p.m. on the night of the earthquake, departing 3 hours later with all necessary materials. He was later promoted to chief of staff of the Nanjing MRAF. He was promoted to commander of the Guangzhou Military Region Air Force and concurrently deputy commander of the Guangzhou MR in 2013, replacing Zhang Jianping, who had become deputy commander of the PLAAF. Xu was elevated to the rank of lieutenant general on 16 July 2014.