Yang was born in Miluo County, Yueyang, in July 1966.[1] In 1984, he was admitted to Changsha University, where he met his wife Li Xiangjiang.[1] After graduation in 1987, he became an officer in Changsha Public Security Bureau. Since June 1990, he successively worked in the General Office of CCP Changsha Municipal Committee, Changsha Investment Promotion Bureau, Changsha Foreign Trade Bureau, and Changsha Commerce Bureau.[1] He joined the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) in June 1991. He became magistrate of Changsha County, a county under the jurisdiction of Changsha, in October 2007, and then party secretary, the top political position in the county, beginning in January 2009.[1] In April 2016, he was named acting mayor of Loudi, replacing Li Jianguo.[1] He was installed as mayor in the following month.[1] In April 2021, he was transferred to Changde and rose to become party secretary, a position he held for only seven months.[1][2]
On 12 May 2022, he was expelled from the Communist Party of China (CCP) and dismissed from public office.[4] He was taken away by the Hunan Provincial People's Procuratorate on June 2.[5]
On 23 March 2023, he received a sentence of 16 years and 6 months in prison and fine of 3.5 million yuan for taking bribes by the Zhuzhou Intermediate People's Court.[6] Yang's illegal gains will be confiscated and his case transferred to the judiciary.[6]
Personal life
His wife Li Xiangjiang (李湘江), deputy party secretary and deputy director of Changsha Public Security Bureau, has come under investigation on the same day.[1] His younger sister Yang Wenli (杨文利), former director of Human Resources Department of Changsha Radio and Television Station, was put under investigation the next day.[1]
PB Former member of the Politburo; PLA Also a military official; CDI Member of the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection or affiliates 1For details on the civil service ranks of officials, please see Civil Service of the People's Republic of China; 2Army generals listed have attained at least the rank of Major General, which usually enjoys the same administrative privileges as a civilian official of sub-provincial rank.