Chang Qu was born in Jiangyuan, Shu Commandery [zh], which is in present-day Chengdu, Sichuan during the Jin dynasty.

The Chang of Jiangyuan were a prominent clan producing many scholars and masters of the prose who enjoyed writing.

At the start of the 4th century, due to a peasant uprising in the Shu region, local nobles led their followers and retainers to migrate far away.

[2] Meanwhile, the Shu people who had migrated to Jing and Xiang were ruled by Du Tao, who had established control over the region.

[3] Chang Qu was studious and curious, among the returned migrants many had knowledge of far-off places and tales of turmoil.

In the third year of Yonghe (347), when Huan Wen invaded Shu and his army reached Chengdu, Chang Qu, along with the Supervisor of the Palace Writers [zh] Wang Gu [zh], advised Li Shi to surrender to Jin, and then moved with him to Jiankang.