He entered the workforce in April 1974, and joined the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) in July 1982.
He moved up the ranks to become general manager in April 1998 and chairman of the board in December 2000.
On 22 May 2019, Yuan was placed under investigation for "serious violations of laws and regulations" by the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (CCDI), the party's internal disciplinary body, and the National Supervisory Commission, the highest anti-corruption agency of the People's Republic of China.
On 6 September, the Intermediate People's Court of Guiyang held a public hearing of Yuan's bribery case.
[3] He was also deprived of his political rights for life, and ordered by the court to have all his personal assets confiscated and turn over all illicit gains and their interests to the national treasury.