Chi was born in Mohe County, Heilongjiang in February 1964. Her father, Chi Zefeng (迟泽凤), was the president of a local school. Chi Zijian was named after his father's idol Cao Zijian, a poet and prince of the state of Cao Wei in the Three Kingdoms period.
Chi entered Daxing'anling Normal College (大兴安岭师范学校) in 1981, graduating in 1984. She started to publish novels in 1983.[4]
Chi was a member of the 12th and 13th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC).[5] On January 15, 2020, she was elected vice-chairwoman of the CPPCC Heilongjiang Provincial Committee.[5]