Li Kai began his professional football career after graduating from the Dalian Shide youth team in 2008 and would make his senior debut for the club on June 25, 2008 in a league game over Liaoning Whowin where Dalian won 2-1.[1] In his debut season Li Kai would go on to score his first goal for the club on September 12, 2008 in a 3-1 defeat to Shanghai Shenhua.[2] However, the team suffered a disappointing season which saw Dalian flirt with relegation.[3]
By the beginning of the 2010 league season Dalian allowed Li Kai to go on loan to top tier side Shaanxi Baorong Chanba and he would make his debut for the club on March 28, 2010 in a 1-1 draw against his parent club Dalian Shide.[4] By July 28, 2010 he would then score his first goal for the club in a league game against Chongqing Lifan, which ended in a 2-2 draw.[5] His loan period made his move permanent the following season before his new club decided to move to Guizhou and renamed themselves Guizhou Renhe in 2012.[6]