Guo was born in Liquan County, Shaanxi province.
In August 1958, Guo, aged 16 and just finished middle school, began working at a military factory in Xingping, Shaanxi province.
Guo joined the People's Liberation Army in 1961.
Two years later, he joined the Communist Party of China.
Guo was trained at China's National Defense University and the Xi'an Army Academy in People's Liberation Army Military Academy where he graduated.

Guo earned a series of promotions in the 1970s.
In the 55th Division of the 19th Army, Guo rose from a soldier to chief of staff of the 55th Division by 1982.
By 1983 Guo was chief of staff of the 19th Army until 1985, when he became deputy chief of staff of the Lanzhou Military Region after a major re-organization of the PLA that took place under Deng Xiaoping.
Afterwards Guo became commander of the 47th Group Army for three years.
In 1993 Guo became deputy commander of the Beijing Military Region, the heart of China's defense establishment, and in 1997 commander of the Lanzhou Military Region.
In September 1999, Guo became a member of the Central Military Commission, deputy chief of staff, and was also promoted to the rank of General (the highest rank in the army).

In 2002, at the 16th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, Guo became the Vice-Chairman of the Central Military Commission (CMC), serving alongside Hu Jintao, who became nominal General Secretary of the Communist Party at the same Congress.
The Vice-Chairmanship of the CMC is the highest executive position given to military officers.
Guo served for ten years.
He retired at the 18th National Congress in November 2012.
Guo was born in Liquan County, Shaanxi province. In August 1958, Guo, aged 16 and just finished middle school, began working at a military factory in Xingping, Shaanxi province. Guo joined the People's Liberation Army in 1961. Two years later, he joined the Communist Party of China. Guo was trained at China's National Defense University and the Xi'an Army Academy in People's Liberation Army Military Academy where he graduated.
Guo earned a series of promotions in the 1970s. In the 55th Division of the 19th Army, Guo rose from a soldier to chief of staff of the 55th Division by 1982. By 1983 Guo was chief of staff of the 19th Army until 1985, when he became deputy chief of staff of the Lanzhou Military Region after a major re-organization of the PLA that took place under Deng Xiaoping. Afterwards Guo became commander of the 47th Group Army for three years. In 1993 Guo became deputy commander of the Beijing Military Region, the heart of China's defense establishment, and in 1997 commander of the Lanzhou Military Region. In September 1999, Guo became a member of the Central Military Commission, deputy chief of staff, and was also promoted to the rank of General (the highest rank in the army).
In 2002, at the 16th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, Guo became the Vice-Chairman of the Central Military Commission (CMC), serving alongside Hu Jintao, who became nominal General Secretary of the Communist Party at the same Congress. The Vice-Chairmanship of the CMC is the highest executive position given to military officers. Guo served for ten years. He retired at the 18th National Congress in November 2012.
Guo Boxiong