Yantian studied architectural design at the University of Edinburgh. After qualifying in 2011 he joined Foster + Partners to work on projects which include Riverside Shanghai, Bund Financial Center, Sheikh Zayed Museum. In 2013, he went to Architectural Association to carry on his further education, after qualifying his diploma degree in 2015, he returned to Foster + Partners to work on Jeddah metro, du Headquarters and Shenzhen Winhold Mixed-Use development. More recently, he relocated to the Shanghai office where he is involved with multiple projects in China. He was made Partner in 2022.