His father, Qian Zhao (牽招), was a notable military general of the Cao Wei state.
In 266, following the replacement of the Cao Wei state by the Jin dynasty (266–420) in February that year, Qian Hong was appointed as the Inspector (刺史) of Yang Province.
In c.February 270,[2] he repelled an invasion led by Ding Feng, a general from the Jin dynasty's rival state Eastern Wu.
In 271, the Xianbei chieftain Tufa Shujineng started a rebellion in Beidi Commandery (北地郡; around present-day Tongchuan, Shaanxi) and led his tribal forces to attack Jincheng Commandery (金城郡; around present-day Yuzhong County, Gansu).
Qian Hong, then the Inspector of Liang Province, led government forces to attack the rebels.