[2] Before taking up cycling, Ji competed as a runner whilst at school.

One factor which led to him switching sports was the weather in his hometown, the northern city of Harbin, where temperatures can drop to −20 °C (−4 °F) in winter, when Ji could train for cycling indoors.

Initially a track cyclist, he later switched to road racing.

[3] Ji moved to Europe in 2006, competing in amateur criterium races in the Netherlands before turning professional.

[4] In 2012, Ji became the first Chinese rider to race in,[5] and complete, a Grand Tour, when he finished 175th at the Vuelta a España.