As a player he represented Liaoning FC where he won the Golden Boot in the 1999 league season before joining Shanghai Shenhua.
Qu joined Shanghai Shenhua in 2000 and scored a total of 38 goals for the club during his fours years there, which included him winning the 2003 league title.
[1][2] After a successful trial with Adelaide United in February 2005, Qu was quickly signed by the club in April of the same year.
In December 2006, Qu's status as Adelaide United's marquee player came into doubt as his ankle injury ruled him out for the rest of the 2006–2007 season, plus the Asian Champions League (which United qualified for on the back of its 2005-06 A-League season minor premiership).
[4] In April 2007, Qu returned to Shanghai after Adelaide United declined to renew his contract for the 2007-08 A-League season,[5] although he indicated he hoped to stay in contact with the club, and apply for permanent residency in Australia.