Hu Qingshi was born in July 1938, Anqing, Anhui. After graduating from middle school in 1956, he was admitted to Anhui Opera Troupe as a trainee.

In 1958, he served as an actor in the Lanzhou Military Region Fighting Drama Troupe. In 1969, demobilization was assigned to Wuhu Iron and Steel Plant as a worker. In 1972 he was an actor of Anhui Provincial Drama Troupe.