Xu Yanli represented her nation at international competitions. During the 1995-96 speed skating season she participatd at the 1996 Asian Winter Games in the 500 metres event, but was disqualified during her second race. The next season she won the 1997 Asian Speed Skating Championships in Obihiro, Japan, the silver medal in the 1000 metres event behind Tomomi Okazaki and ahead of Yang Chunyuan. In the 500 metres event she won bronze medal behind the Japanese women Tomomi Okazaki and Kyuoko Shimazaki.