Graduated from Lanzhou University, School of Journalism and Communication, Yang is a senior journalist at Xinhua News Agency, a China Photographers Association member, and the General Manager at Xinhuanet North America. As a journalist, Yang has been to over 30 countries and regions. He covered the Academy Awards for 6 years, the World Cup two times, and the NBA Finals 5 times. Yang also reported on the United States presidential election, Yasser Arafat’ Funeral, Wenchuan earthquake, and other major international events. Yang was the first Chinese news photographer to enter Somalia after the civil war and Sudan after the War in Darfur. He has won national news photography awards for over 10 times.