Liu has won multiple medals in the World Championships in Athletics, including three gold medals in 2011, 2015, and 2019 and two silver medals in 2009 and 2013. She placed fourth at the Summer Olympics in both 2008 and 2012. Liu is the 2016 Olympic 20 km racewalking gold medalist. Liu is a two-time gold medalist at the Asian Games, winning in 2006 and 2010. She was the runner-up at the IAAF World Race Walking Cup in 2014. In her early career, she was the World Junior Champion in 2006.