She spent most of her career in her native Inner Mongolia and rose through the ranks of the Communist Youth League.
Ulan was born to an ethnic Mongol family in Horqin Left Middle Banner of Jirem League (now Tongliao).
She became involved in politics when she was a mere sixteen years old, when she began working for the Communist Youth League (CYL) office in Baotou.
She continued her involvement in the Youth League after, taking up a series of roles in its organization in Baotou.
[2] Ulan is an alternate member of the 18th Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party, and a deputy to the 12th National People's Congress.