Li won the Children's Piano Competition in Beijing in 1994. In 1995, he was awarded first place at the Stravinsky International Youth Competition. In 1998, he won the Missouri Southern International Piano Competition's junior division, and got Third Prize at the International Franz Liszt Piano Competition of Utrecht the next year. He also won the China International Piano Competition. He also got first place at the Gina Bachauer Young Artists International Piano Competition. Li participated in the 14th International Frédéric Chopin Piano Competition in Warsaw and won the first prize and the "polonaise award".