Growing up in Shiyan, 'the City of Cars,' his parents worked in the automotive industry like so many others in the city.  As a result, Yang grew up surrounded by piles of car components and scrap metal.  These parts became his toys as a child.  Although he had a great love of drawing and became an oil painter, he ultimately developed an intrigue with Transformers and sculpture from a very early age.

 

He created his first Transformer while majoring in Oil Painting at the China Central Academy of Fine Arts.  It was two metres high and constructed from a paper cutter and PVC foam.  It attracted great local attention and was eventually displayed at a local cinema.