Yao Ming was born on September 12, 1980, in Shanghai, China. His mother Fengdi Fang a center, was once captain of China's national women's team. His father Zhiyuan, played at a local pro club in Shanghai. Although Ming’s parents tried to pursue their kid’s future with basketball but failed to do so. At nine he outgrew the height of normal kids and was often hindered by his bony frame. He found it very difficult to heave the ball toward the hoop. His friends also made fun about his skinny arms, which looked like chopsticks. Fitness was a problem, too. He played in his first organized basketball game after his tenth birthday, in a league similar to Little League baseball in the U.S. With all the guidance from the parents, especially on the center's standpoint, he put on a great show. 

Yao’s seriousness about the game grew when he was 12 years. He was sent to Shanghai's provincial sports academy. At the academy, his skills were refined by the coaches. Yao’s basketball hero was world class center Arvydas Sabonis. He always tried to imitate Arvydas’ game on the floor. His first break came with the local youth team, The Shanghai Oriental Sharks. In 1997-98, Ming joined the Shanghai Sharks. At a game in Paris where he was invited by Nike, he awed the audience. Ming along with Liu Wei, were bought in to play in the AAU junior elite team. They attended the Nike All-American camp in Indianapolis. At the camp the coaches and recruiters ranked him as the camp's second-best center. 

He played well in the Sydney 2000 Summer Olympics. At the 2001-2002, he ranked second in the league for scoring 32 points per game, with a 72% field goal percentage, and 19 rebounds per game. He won a sportsmanship award and more importantly led his team, the Shanghai Sharks, to a CBA title. In February 2003, Yao was rewarded for his excellent play. He was selected as the starting center for the Western Conference in the 2003 All-Star Game in Atlanta. He posted two points and grabbed two rebounds in 17 minutes of play.

At NBA's offseason in 2003, Yao spent a lot of time helping the prevention of SARS in his home country. He raised $300,000 US dollars to help stop the disease.

At the 2004 Athens Olympics, Yao made a unique vow, not to shave for six months unless the Chinese national basketball team makes it into the quarter-finals. After a few tough matches Yao virtually carried the team with 27 points. He was selected to the All-Olympics team, averaging 20.7 points and 9.3 rebounds per game while shooting 55.9% from the field.