Zhou Guangquan, 1949 10 was born in Wuwei county, Anhui province. Because of his father's early death, his mother took great pains to bring up Zhou Guangquan. 1972, Zhou Guangquan joined the party because of his outstanding achievements.

By May 1994, Zhou Guangquan had gradually stepped onto the post of Chaohu Administrative Commissioner from an ordinary grass-roots cadre, and then successively served as secretary of Chaohu prefectural party committee, secretary of Chaohu municipal party committee, director of Chaohu Municipal People's Congress Standing Committee, deputy secretary-general of Anhui Provincial Party Committee and director of ethnic and religious foreign affairs working committee of Anhui Provincial People's Congress Standing Committee.