He studied at Beijing Institute of Architectural Engineering (now Beijing University of Architecture), and graduated from Yale University in the United States. Ma Yansong founded MAD Architectural Firm in 2004 to design a series of landmark buildings and works of art, including the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art, the Canadian "Monroe Tower", the Ordos Museum, Harbin Cultural Island, Chaoyang Park Square, Fishbowl, Hutong Bubble.