[2]: 40 The area of present-day Qian'an had historically been part of Anxi County (安喜县; 安喜縣; Ānxǐ Xiàn) during the Liao and the Jin dynasties.

[2]: 30 [4] In 1167, during the Jin dynasty, the area was renamed to Qian'an County (迁安县; 遷安縣; Qiān'ān Xiàn),[2]: 30 [4] whose name literally means "moved from Anxi".

[2]: 30 [4] During the Spring and Autumn period, the area was part of Lingqi [zh] (令支国; 令支國; Lìngqí Guó), a Shanrong state.

[2]: 30 During the Qin dynasty, in 221 BCE, the area was organized as Lizhi County (离支县; 離支縣; Lízhī Xiàn), and was placed under the jurisdiction of Liaoxi Commandery.

[2]: 30 [4] The area was reorganized as Linzhi County (令支县; 令支縣; Lìngzhī Xiàn) during the Han dynasty, but remained under the jurisdiction of Liaoxi Commandery.

[2]: 30  In 285 CE, Emperor Wu of Jin successfully led an army against Xianbei chief Murong Hui to conquer Feiru (肥如; Féirú), an area corresponding to the northeastern portion of present-day Qian'an.

[2]: 30 During the Ming dynasty, Qian'an County belonged to Yongping Prefecture (永平府; Yǒngpíng Fǔ), within North Zhili province.

[2]: 30 Upon its liberation from Imperial Japan in 1945, Qian'an County was placed under the 16th Jidong Prefecture (冀东十六专区; 冀東十六專區; Jìdōng Shíliù Zhuānqū).

[3] Located at the southern foot of the Yan Mountains, Qian'an's elevation is generally higher in the northwest, and lower in the southeast.

[3] The highest point in Qian'an is Mount Dazuizi (大嘴子山; Dàzuǐzi Shān), located in the north of the city, which reaches an elevation of 695.7 metres (2,282 ft).

[2]: 41 Major mineral resources within Qian'an include iron ore, limestone, quartz, feldspar, flint, graphite, kaolinte, and bentonite.

[2]: 41 Major crops grown in Qian'an include maize, peanuts, wheat, sweet potato, soybean, millet, muskmelon, watermelon, Brassica rapa, cucumber, spinach, tomatoes, green peppers, zucchini, radishes, onions, garlic, beans, and mushrooms.