Three international appearances came for Wei in the 1997 season. Beginning with the 1997 IAAF World Cross Country Championships, she placed 41st to lead the Chinese women's team to 13th place. After a successful tour of Japan, winning at the Osaka Grand Prix, Shizuoka International Meet and Oda Memorial, she became China's choice for the East Asian Games – she was a silver medallist in the 5000 m, having narrowly lost to Harumi Hiroyama. In her last major outing, she placed ninth in the 5000 m final at the 1997 World Championships in Athletics.