Li was born in Zhangqiu, Shandong Province, in September 1954. He joined the Chinese Communist Party in April 1974 and began his military career in November 1972 as a soldier in the 3rd Battalion, 230th Regiment, 77th Division of the 26th Army. From 1975 to 1978, Li studied Chinese language and literature at Shandong Normal College (now Shandong Normal University). After graduation, he returned to the 26th Army as a platoon leader, later serving as a staff officer in the military affairs section.[3]
Between 1983 and 1987, Li served in various administrative roles in the Jinan Military Region Headquarters, eventually becoming secretary in the First Secretariat Office. In 1990, he was transferred to the Nanjing Military Region Headquarters, where he held successive posts including secretary in the First Secretariat Office, deputy director of the Headquarters Office, and Director of the Directly Subordinate Work Department. In June 2001, Li became Political Commissar of the Directly Subordinate Work Department, and between 2001 and 2002 he attended the National Defense University for training in joint campaign command. From December 2003 to June 2004, he served as Deputy Minister of the Nanjing Military Region Equipment Department.[4]
In 2004, Li was promoted to major general. He subsequently became Director of the Political Department of the 12th Group Army, and later its Deputy Political Commissar. In October 2006, Li was appointed Political Commissar of the Jiangsu Provincial Military District. In August 2009, he entered provincial-level Party leadership as a member of the Standing Committee of the Jiangsu Provincial Committee of the Chinese Communist Party, while concurrently serving as Political Commissar and Party Secretary of the provincial military district. He held these posts until January 2015, when he retired from active service.[5]