Gao Huan had a similar background to Lyu Bu, with both living during a turbulent period. Unlike the Later Han Dynasty (206 BC–220) and the Three Kingdoms (220-280) dynasties, Gao Huan lived in the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period – another era when heroes sprang up everywhere.

He was formally honored by the Northern Qi initially as Emperor Xianwu, then as Emperor Shenwu. During his life, he and his family gained firm control of the Eastern Wei dynasty, and eventually, his son Gao Yang forced Emperor Xiaojing of the Eastern Wei to yield the throne to him, establishing the Gao clan as the imperial house of the new Northern Qi dynasty. 

His ancestral home was in Hebei, but his family was exiled to Huaishuo town (administered by Guyang county in Baotou), so that later generations lived there. Because he grew up in an area ruled by ethnic groups, he was an exponent of horse riding and archery, although he achieved success through political means rather than by personal force.

Gao was resourceful, expedient. 

In 525, in the midst of Six Frontier Towns Rebellions against the Northern Wei rule, Gao and his accomplices joined the Erzhu family and he was later formally honored as governor of Jinzhou. Later, he defeated the Erzhu family and seized power. Before his death, Gao Huan warned his son Gao Cheng, pointing out that Hou Jing would rebel and subsequent events proved him correct.