 In September 2000, Tong was appointed as the Deputy Secretary of Xiangxi Tujia and Miao Autonomous Prefecture; he then was promoted to Party Secretary in February 2003.Tong served as the Party Secretary of Shaoyang between March 2008 to February 2012, and the Party Secretary of Hengyang between February 2012 to April 2013.In January 2013, Tong was elected as the Vice-Chairman of Hunan Provincial People's Political Consultative Conference, a largely ceremonial legislative consultation body.