Yu entered the work force as a chemical factory worker in Taicang, Jiangsu Province.
In 1979, shortly after the resumption of the National College Entrance Examination, Yu was admitted to the Chinese language department of Renmin University.
As a direct result of online discussions, Yu was able to tackle a transit fare problem faced by city residents.
In Xiamen, he worked with He Lifeng and Liu Cigui, both of whom were considered "political stars" who were later promoted.
[3] In December 2020, Yu was appointed as the Deputy Chairperson of the National People's Congress Environment Protection and Resources Conservation Committee.