Bu Wancang studied cinematography under American photographer Harry Grogin and completed in 1921 a short film titled Rice Bucket. In 1924, he joined Great China Films in Shanghai as cinematographer; in 1926, he entered China Sun Motion Pictures as production manager, making his directorial debut with Why Not Her scripted by master dramaturg Ouyang Yuqian.
He then left for Mingxing Films, where he directed The Couple in Name (1927) which made a star of the legendary actress Ruan Ling Yu. In 1931, he joined United Photoplay Service and turned in a number of celebrated classics, such as Love and Duty (1931), The Peach Girl (1931), and The Light of Maternal Instinct (1933). In 1937, Bu entered Hsin Hwa Motion Pictures founded by Zhang Shankun. His debut project with the studio was Sable Cicada (1938), which was put into production in Shanghai but completed in Hong Kong due to the outbreak of the Second Sino-Japanese War. Later, Bu returned to Shanghai and directed for Zhang Shan Kun the period drama Mulan Joins the Army (1939). It was another box-office hit. Subsequent to Japanese encroachment into the International Settlements, Bu and Zhang collaborated with the Japanese- controlled China United Films and completed Eternality (1943, co-directed) and Daughter of the Fisherman (1943), among other titles.
After the war, Zhang Shan Kun assisted Li Zu Yong in founding Yung Hwa Motion Picture Studios in Hong Kong and invited Bu to come over to helm its founding work, The Soul of China (1948). In 1950, Bu founded Taishan Films and nurtured a new generation of Mandarin film stars, such as Grace Chang and Chung Ching. Soon after, Bu began to direct Mandarin films for multiple companies, including Hsin Hwa, Asia Pictures, Motion Picture & General Investment, and Shaw Brothers. His Long Lane (1956) for Asia Pictures won the Best Screenplay Award at the 3rd Southeast Asian Film Festival. His Nobody’s Child (1960) for Kuo Phone Motion Pictures was a star vehicle that put the talents of child star Josephine Siao Fong-fong to full display.
Bu went to Taiwan in the 1960s to further his directorial career.

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