[3] In May 2014, Yang participated in the 2014 World Cup, placing second in the women's 10 km (junior) event in 43:37, behind Duan Dandan.

On August 13, 2017, Yang won the 20 km race at the 2017 World Championships with a personal best of 1:26:18, ahead of Mexican María Guadalupe González and Italian Antonella Palmisano.

Her compatriot, Lü Xiuzhi, was dramatically disqualified just about 20 metres away from winning the bronze medal.

[4] In 2019, Yang competed in the women's 20 kilometres walk event at the 2019 World Athletics Championships held in Doha, Qatar.

[6] At the 2024 Summer Olympics, Yang won the gold medal in the 20 kilometre race walk event.