[1] Yang Zhi started his football career at second tier side Guangdong Xiongying after graduating from their youth academy.

[3] Yang's performances caught the eye of Chinese Super League side Beijing Guoan and he soon transferred to the club at the start of the 2005 season where he once again quickly established himself as the first-choice goalkeeper, playing in 21 league games in his debut season.

Yang made his debut in the China national team on 10 August 2006 in a 4-0 win against Thailand, coming on as a substitute for Li Leilei.

[4] He would later make his competitive debut the following year on 28 October 2007 in a 1-0 win against Myanmar during 2010 FIFA World Cup qualification.

[5] However, it was not until the introduction of then manager Gao Hongbo that saw Yang promoted to first-choice goalkeeper when he named him in his first game on 29 May 2009 in a 1-1 draw against Germany.