[1] She excelled at math while attending junior school in Hangzhou, and completed training for the China Girls Mathematical Olympiad.

[7] She returned to China after completing her studies in London to work for the Mengtian Group, where she was made vice chairman in 2015.

[2][11] In December 2017, the Chinese business magazine Gafencu Men listed Yu as one of the 300 most powerful people in China, and the Hong Kong edition of Tatler named her one of Asia's eight most stylish women.

[2][13] With respect to the Victoria and Albert Museum, Yu was a founding member of the institution's Young Patrons' Circle.

[1][15] She has a couture and accessory collections and limited edition Barbie dolls,[2] which she has indicated that she intends to eventually display in a fashion museum in China.