Yao was promoted to Shandong Luneng's first team squad by Felix Magath in July 2016.
On 4 March 2018, he made his Chinese Super League debut in a 3–0 home win over Beijing Sinobo Guoan.
[10] The following season he was loaned out again, this time to second tier club Zhejiang Energy Greentown where he made his debut in a league game on 24 October 2020 against Kunshan in a 2-0 victory.
[12] He would go on to establish himself as a vital member of the team as they gained promotion to the top tier at the end of the 2021 China League One season through a play-off victory against Qingdao.
[13] Yao made his debut for the Chinese national team on 10 September 2019 in a 5–0 win against the Maldives, coming on as a substitute for Hao Junmin in the 80th minute.