Born in Shanghai, Ji graduated from Renmin University of China school of law, specializing in criminal law. He joined the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) in July 1987. After graduating, he became a functionary with the Communist Youth League, eventually leading the organization's arm at his alma mater. In August 1994 he was named deputy Communist Youth League Secretary of Beijing, promoted a year later to Secretary. In October 1998, he took on the post of party chief of Miyun County. In June 2002 he was named head of the Political and Legal Affairs Commission of Beijing and a member of the municipal Party Standing Committee, ascending to sub-provincial ranks at the age of only 40.[1] In 2004 he was named vice mayor of Beijing. In 2007, he was named executive vice mayor of Beijing. In June 2012, he was named CCP Deputy Committee Secretary of Beijing.[2]
On January 25, 2013, Ji Lin was named Chairman of the Beijing Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference. At the time he was the second youngest CPPCC provincial-level chair in the country, next to Nurlan Abilmazhinuly.[citation needed]
