Yu graduated from Lu Xun Academy of Fine Arts in 1956. In 1962, he got his master’s degree from the Hochschule für Grafi k und Buchkunst, Leipzig. As a professor of the Academy of Arts and Design, Tsinghua University from 1962. Yu was vice-president of Icograda (2001–2003) and legate of ITC. He won the East German Culture Minister’s Award in 1959, The Most Beautiful Books in Germany in 1963, Tokyo TDC Award in 1997 and 1998, Excellence Award in the Deutscher Kinderschutzbund Poster Contest 1998 and the special award from the Second China (Shenzhen) International Cultural Fair in 2006. He has also served on committees and juries for Die Internationale Buchkunst-Ausstellung Leipzig, 1989, OPCW (Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons) Logo Competition, Morisawa Awards 1993 International Typeface Design Competition, and the Competition for Logo and Poster Design for the 2008 Beijing Olympics.