She worked as a teacher upon graduating, before joining the Communist Youth League organization in Zhuzhou.
In 1997 she became involved in commerce; by 2000 she began working for the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade, Hunan division, becoming its head in 2003.
In August 2015, in a provincial leadership reshuffle, she was named Secretary of the Political and Legal Affairs Commission (Zhengfawei) of Hunan province.
[1] On 29 July 2024, Li has come under investigation for "serious violations of discipline and laws" by the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (CCDI), the party's internal disciplinary body, and the National Supervisory Commission, the highest anti-corruption agency of China.
[2] On 24 January 2025, Li as expelled from the CCP and removed from public office.