She represented her country at the 2008 Summer Olympics but her mark of 4.15 m in the qualifying round was not enough to progress to the final.

She fared better at the 2009 World Championships in Athletics, but her season's best mark of 4.40 m was ten centimetres off making the final competition.

She matched her personal best to take the gold medal at the 2009 Asian Indoor Games.

The vault was one centimetre off Zhang Yingning's Asian record in the event.

Li won the women's pole vault event at the 2014 IAAF Continental Cup with mark of 4.55m, remarkably, this was the sole first-place finish for Asia-Pacific team at that tournament.