He made his debut for the club on 9 April 2008 in a 0–0 away draw with Shenzhen Shangqingyin and was described by then manager Cheng Yaodong as an exciting prospect for the future.

[2] However, in the following season, new manager Zhu Guanghu decided to move Rao from a midfield position into the defense where he quickly established himself as the team's starting fullback.

[4] On 12 September 2020 he would make his debut in the first league game for the club of the season that ended in a 2–1 victory against Heilongjiang Lava Spring.

[5] Rao would go on to establish himself as a vital member of the team and at the end of the 2020 league campaign he would go on to win the division title with the club.

[6] Rao made his debut for the Chinese national team on 18 November 2014 in a 0–0 draw against Honduras.