Previously he served as director of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Affairs of Hunan.
[2] In January 1989, he was transferred to the Organization Department of the CCP Hengshan County Committee, and was appointed secretary of the Hengshan County Committee of the Communist Youth League of China in April 1991.
[2] In September 2006, he was admitted to member of the CCP Hengyang Municipal Committee, the city's top authority.
[2] He also served as director of Hunan Provincial Bureau of Livestock and Fisheries from March 2012 to December 2017.
[4] On 26 March 2023, Yuan was suspected of "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 China.