In 1998, he represented the Jianlibao Youth Team and won third place in the Toulon Cup International Youth Football Invitational Tournament in France.

In 1998, he represented the national team and won the runner-up in the Bangkok Asian Games football match.

In 1999, he represented the national team and won the "Dunhill Cup" International Football Invitational Championship.

In March 2000, he was elected as a member of the first Chinese men's football "Dragon Team" organized by the Chinese Football Association and sponsored by the China Zhengqi Dragon International Foundation.

In 2000, he represented the national team and won the fourth place in the 12th Asian Cup.

In 2001, he represented the national team and qualified for the World Cup.

On July 25, 2002, he transferred to Everton in the Premier League on loan.

In the summer of 2006, he transferred to the newly promoted Sheffield United in the Premier League for ￡1.2 million.

In 2008, he was loaned to the new Chinese Super League team Chengdu Sheffield United.

In 2009, he played for the Chinese League One Liaoning Hongyun Team and successfully reached the Super League with the team.

He has been the assistant coach of Guangzhou Evergrande since 2012. He won the Chinese Super League championship that year and the AFC Champions League the following year.