Career
Qiu started his senior career in Changchun Yatai and transferred to Liaoning Zhongyu in 2001. He was released by the club in 2005 as he was surplus to requirements. Qiu was brought to to play for the now defunct South. League club, Sinchi Football Club. After the club decided to pull out of the South-league for the 2006 season, he stayed in and agreed on a contract with the Young Lions where he excelled with 19 goals from 25 matches played.
He joined Home United Football Club in 2007 but failed to find his form and joined Tampines Rovers Football Club in 2008.
Impressive displays in his debuting two seasons earned him citizenship. Qiu made his debut for the national team on 28 May 2008, in a friendly against Bahrain.
However, on the 24th of November 2008, Fédération internationale de football association banned Qiu from playing for because he did not meet the new criteria stating that a new citizen needs to reside in his new country for five years. Qiu Li had only lived in for 3 years.
Thus he would be only eligible for international football come 2010.
On 23 July 2011, Qu Li scored his first goal for in the first leg of the World Cup Qualifier against Malaysia played at a sold out crowd at Jalan Besar Stadiums. International.