During the Down to the Countryside Movement, Chen worked as a sent-down youth at Junshan Farm, in Yueyang, Hunan.
Chen began working in March 1972 and he joined the Chinese Communist Party in December 1976.
After the resumption of the University Entrance Examination in 1977, Chen entered Hunan Normal College in March 1978, majoring in political science, after graduating in January 1982 he was accepted to Central Party School of the Chinese Communist Party and graduated in December 1984, majoring in scientific socialism.
From November 1996 to August 1999, he was elected as the mayor of Hengyang; he ascended to a prefecture-level position at age 42.
[2] On December 8, 2013, Chen was dismissed, arrested and investigated for corruption by the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection.