Tan Qiwei joined the Communist Party of China in 1973, became its Committee Vice-Secretary and County Governor of Shizhu Tujia Autonomous County in 1985 and was transferred in 1989 to CPC County Committee Secretary.
Tan joined the workforce in March 1973 and joined the Communist Party of China in November 1973. In July 1985, he was appointed the CPC County Committee Vice-Secretary and County Governor of Shizhu Tujia Autonomous County, he remained in that position until September 1989, when he was transferred to Youyang Tujia and Miao Autonomous County and appointed the CPC County Committee Secretary. 
