Hu was born in Wensheng residential community (文胜社区) of Rongjiawan (荣家湾), Yueyang county, Hunan.

As a small child he used to go swimming and rowing in a fishing boat behind his parents' back in summer in a pond near his home.

[2] In 2001 it was Sui Hongjun (隋红军), who served as a whitewater slalom coach in Heyuan Water Sports Administration, Guangdong, who discovered Hu's potential in canoeing and recommended Hu to take part in slalom training.

The two-man team gradually became leading figures of Chinese slalom C2 events.

From 2005 to 2013, Hu competed in China National Games three times, winning gold in 2009 and 2013 and silver in 2005.